Research on ongoing emigration and the impact of refugees along the Balkan Route

Postdoctoral researcher Dr. Evelyn Reuter (University of the Bundeswehr Munich) researched ongoing emigration and the impact of refugees along the Balkan Route during her Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM), funded by the COST Action COREnet. Dr. Reuter visited Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, to investigate the underexplored story of emigration and immigration in Southeast Europe, where Muslims have been a part of society for centuries.

While Western Europe often takes centre stage in migration discussions, North Macedonia reveals a different narrative: ongoing emigration and the impact of refugees along the Balkan Route. This STSM project highlights that migration in Europe is not just about immigration to Western EU countries; it also encompasses forced emigration due to economic or political pressures and (temporary) immigration through transit stops or asylum-seeking.

Why does this matter? Migration is not just reshaping boundaries; it is redefining the religious and social dynamics within religious (here: Muslim) communities. This research offers new perspectives on migration, diversity, and social cohesion by exploring how emigration affects those who stay behind and how (temporary) Muslim immigrants integrate.

Dr. Reuter said the findings will provide valuable knowledge for policymakers, researchers, and community leaders. They aim to help better understand and address the evolving dynamics of emigration and immigration types and community integration in North Macedonia – and beyond.

During the STSM project, Dr. Reuter explored how migration reshapes religious communities in North Macedonia, focusing on intra-Muslim dynamics. Using participatory methods and conducting seven in-depth interviews with local experts, community leaders, and migrants, she investigated two key areas: the Bektashi Sufi order’s struggle for recognition and property, and the experiences of Muslim asylum seekers.

The findings reveal how migration affects both established religious groups and newcomers. The Bektashi Sufi order faces challenges due to the emigration of Turkish members and the settlement of non-Bektashi Muslims and Orthodox Christians and the resulting marginalization. Similarly, current Muslim asylum seekers in North Macedonia are marginalized, as they are often treated as temporary residents in transit rather than being fully integrated. Although the Islamic Community in North Macedonia claims to represent all Muslims, these two “subgroups” feel unrepresented and largely invisible.

These outcomes will inform a co-authored article in the Journal of Muslims in Europe. Additionally, anonymized interview data will be stored in the Archive of the Institute for Ethnology and Anthropology in Skopje for future research.

In the photo: Bektashi tekke complex in Tetovo

What is a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) within COREnet?

A Short-Term Scientific Mission, funded by the COST Action COREnet, consists of a visit to a host organization located in a different country to the country of affiliation of a Researcher in order to carry out specific work as part of a research project. In addition to research purposes, Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) are aimed to support researchers’ individual mobility, to strengthen existing networks and to foster collaboration between individuals. The purpose of a STSM is thus to gain new partnerships, to learn new techniques and to gain access to specific data, instruments and/or methods not available in their own institutions/organizations.