The Internal Migrant: A Comparative Study in Urbanization [Reprint 2020 ed.] 9783112317044, 9783112305775

Table of contents :
FOREWORD
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTENTS
I. Introduction
II. Personal and Family Characteristics
III. Educational and Cultural Status
IV. Occupational Mobility, Intra-generational
V. Motives for Migration
VI. Attitudes on the Rural-urban Dimension
VII. General Conclusions
Index to Authors
Index to Subjects
Appendix

Citation preview

THE

INTERNAL

MIGRANT

THE I N T E R N A L

MIGRANT

A Comparative Study in Urbanization

C A L L I O P E

M O U S T A K A

M.A., Ph.D.

(London)

Social Sciences Centre, Athens.

Foreword by Professor A.

D.

S I D E R I S

SOCIAL SCIENCES CENTRE ATHENS ATHENS

1964

BY THE SAME AUTHOR A Study of the Reactions to Beauty of Certain Groups of Adolescent Pupils M. A. Thesis, University of London, 1953. A Study of Sociometric Choices in their Relation to Attainments, Abilities and Attitudes. Ph. D. Thesis, University of London, 1959. Sociometric Study of a Greek School. The International Journal of Sociometry and Sociatry, 1960. Sociometry and Microsociology, The Calendar Book 1959, The School Higher Industrial Studies, Athens.

for

Tò 'ilpaiov icai f| 'Ayrayf], 'AOfjvai 1960 SfuxoA-OYIKN ' E ^ É X A A N TOO 'fìpaiou, Néa ' E O T Ì U , T. 68

1960

Sociological Characteristics of the Migrants from Zagori, U. N. Conference of the Application of Science and Technology for the Benefit of the Less Developed Areas. Genève 1962. Alari (lExavaaTeùoov ; — npóxujtog epeuva xàiv aìticov HIKÒI; Taxu8póno CIS 60

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XII Total

I

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III

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IV

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V

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11

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VII VIII

1

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XI

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Total

15

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17

15

32

26

1

I

2

74

92

64

14

143

134

2 —

2

213 —

431

MATRIX B.— Change of occupation* of the migrants between village and town. * According to the International Standart Classification of Occupations being as follows: I. Professional, technical and related workers. II. Administrative, executive and managerial workers. III. Clerical workers IV. Sales workers. V. Farmers, fishermen, hunters, loggers and related workers. VI. Miners, quarrymen and related workers. VII. Workers in transport and communication occupations. Vm. Craftsmen, production process workers and labourers N.E.C. IX. Service, sport and recreation workers. X. Workers not classifiable by occupation. XI. Armed Forces. XII. Without occupation (household work, pupils, students, living on private income, pensioners, unable to work, etc.).

50

The

Internal

Migrant

town; in 14 cases through inefficiency and in only 6 cases through lack of available work. Therefore, as this data shows, migration has solved the problem of unemployment for these people and the statement that " les migrants ne constituent pas, en Grèce, une réserve de main-d'œuvre inemployée " (?) has been proved right once again. Generally speaking, the change in occupation of the migrants follows the pattern of rural and urban ecology; the two main occupations, agriculture and industry are reversible in frequences as between village and town. This change is presented in detail by matrix B which confirms the statement made for a village in Boeotia, that " the population no longer needed on the farms can be productively employed in the towns and cities " (4). Of the 507 migrants employed in the town only 58 are doing the same work as they did in the village. They consist of 42 men and 16 women and can be classified according to occupation as follows: — — — — — — —

Dress-makers and shoe-makers Carpenters, iron-mongers, builders Unskilled labourers Priests, teachers, musicians, nurses Butchers Sailors and drivers Gardeners and house-maids

24 12 8 7 3 2 2

Eighteen other persons have changed work but remain in the same occupational category. They, as well as those who have changed occupation, are not included in Matrix B.

2. Help in finding work It is not easy for the newcomer to find work. That is why a certain number of villagers who want to migrate do not dare to do so, but the 264 members of our group who were working at the time of the investigation had found work before leaving their village. Most of them — 196 persons or 74.24% were still doing the same work. This applies more to Parians than to Zagorians (Table V). Who had helped the migrants to find work? Were they able to find it unaided or did they have to obtain assistance from others? How many migrants had been assisted in finding work? By whom had they been helped and in what ways?

51

Occupational

mobility,

intra-generational

before leaving

N

%

Diff.

S.E.

t

Zagorians Parians

105 154

46.46 56.53

10.07

3.16

3.19

1.51

2.77

0.55

Found work

Still doing same Zagorians Parians

work

77 119

73.33 74.84

TABLE V. The difference between Zagorians and Parians as to mode of finding and stability of work.

The whole group N %

Migrants

Zagorians N %

Parians N %

Helped to find work by: Relatives, spiritual kinsmen Fellow-villagers, friends Authorities Professional people. Total Type

of h e l p

Employment Recommendation.. Economic Total

231

63.46

91

61.49

140

64.81

97 26 10

26.64 7.14 2.75

36 14 7

24.32 9.46 4.73

61 12 3

28.24 5.56 1.39

364

71.79

148

65.49

216

56.89

received: 56 269 13

16.57 79.59 3.84

19 111 10

13.57 79.29 7.14

37 158 3

18.69 79.80 1.51

338

92.86

140

94.59

198

91.67

TABLE VI. By whom and how the migrants had been helped to find work.

52

The

Internal

Migrant

Of the 507 working migrants 364 or 71.79% had received assistance in finding work (Table VI). The majority of them (76.89%) are Parians, who seem more dependent on other people than do the Zagorians. Their percentage is 11.10 points greater than that of the Zagorians. This difference is statistically significant as its critical ratio is 3.97 (S.E. 2.87). In finding work the migrants had been helped by their relatives or spiritual kinsmen (63.46%). by their fellow-villagers and friends who were also ex-villagers (26.64%) because on arrival they had had no other friends or acquaintances. The helpers constituting the smallest percentage were the authorities and professional people, bishops, Members of Parliament, teachers, doctors, and so on. These people represent the links between the village and the town. If they had not existed it is questionable whether some of the migrants would ever have left their village or have chosen the particular town*. The data is similar to that found by the National Statistical Service which showed that 40% of the migrants had received assistance in finding work from their relatives in the town, 25% from their fellow - villagers friends and authorities, and only 20% or one fifth of the migrants had found work entirely unaided (5). The data on this matter coincides with the answers given by those migrants who stated that in case of economic or other difficulties they would seek help from almost the same categories of people (Table VII). In both parts of Table VI the migrants have shown themselves to be dependent on assistance, usually from other people, which is understandable in a minority group living in a society in which they regard themselves as newcomers. The migrants have shown themselves to rely mainly on their kinsmen and friends, people with whom they are more familiar, rather than on the state or other agencies, with the exception of those few who seek help from their superiors.

3. Stability in work The occupational position of the migrants is fairly stable. Only 153 persons or 30.17% of the people at work have changed their occupation since moving to the town. The main motive for changing work in the 89 known cases was the desire for a rise in income * Cf. Ch. V, Motives for Migration p. 59 ff.

Occupational SO co

a .2 PL! W c eJ li O 60 ei N

co

sO oo

t =

4 .00

Easy to find work in the chosen town : Zagorians Parians

196 or 46.33% j ^ 302 " 72.42% j

S.E. = 3.11,

t=8.39

Thus Zagorians appear here more dependent. In any case it should be mentioned that the difference in frequency between the first and the second variable in weighting is not great, (1.46%) for the whole group. Therefore we can say that the existence of relatives and friends in the town and the relative ease with which work can be found are the main

Motives

for

&5

migration

factors influencing the choice of place of migration of our group, as has been found with other groups of migrants (5). Distance from the village is also an important factor — 349 cases or 41.55%. There are some other reasons, each however having a low frequency. Here also all the reasons are related to external conditions, except for 19 cases or 2.26% where the migrants* free and spontaneous choice was expressed by phrases, such as: ' I like this town

Reasons

Zagorians N %

218 51..54 I had relatives here It is nearer to the village.. 185 43..73 It is easier to find work... 196 46 .33 There are higher schools.. 43 10 .16 My economic interests 7 1..65 are here 2 0 .47 My health obliged me 5 1 .18 I like this town

Parians N %

Total N %

267 64.03 164 39.33 302 72.42 12 2.88

349 41.55 498 59.29 55 6.15

7

1.67 —

14

3.36

14 2 19

1.67 0.24 2.26

TABLE IV. — Reasons for choosing the town to which they have migrated. The presence of relatives and friends in the town, though seemingly a personal and emotional criterion, is in reality, an externally-conditioned one, the majority of the migrants, both from Zagori and Paros, needing some help in finding work and establishing themselves in the city. Being afraid of the unknown, they choose towns to which their relatives and friends have already gone. In this way the movement from village to town proceeds in a chain-like process; the first who goes pulling the second, the second the third and so on. If the first migrants had cut all links with the village, it would have been necessary for new arrivals to start unaided. Therefore, although the migration has an individual or family character, as 424 persons or 50.48% went alone and 326 persons or 38.81% went with their families, in the last analysis it can be seen as a group migration, based upon the feeling of security created by the presence of relatives in the town.

66 4.

The Internal

Migrant

F i n d i n g s

1. The main motives for migration are the desire for a better life, the search for work and for education. 2. In terms of the whole group of migrants, the choice of town is determined by economic and emotional factors, their order being reversible for Zagorians and for Parians. 3. With regard to the motives for migration and the choice of town, Zagorians are more culturally-minded and more emotionally motivated.

REFERENCES 1. Ei)e?ijti5r|ç Xp., ' 'EyKaxàXei\|/iç 'YnaiOpou 'AypoxiKT) OiKovonia, 12, 'Okt. àbk. 1957, aek. 283, 287. — 'Aypoxiicn rioXmKfi Kai OiKovonia, 'A0f|vai: U

n© c>

•o u tc 05

«3

43

§-

'43

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c

o

P. c cS

X

u £

e o '3 es E o O

o x> J > 3 Z

i> "35 3 «

•o e o 'C Ph

c 1-, es

S4

The Internal

Village and town Companionship

%

diff.

S.E.

t

Signif.

2.98

1.12

—

5.69

3.02

1.88

—

Par.

64.78 | i 3.33 68.11 J

Zag.

61.94

Par.

67.63

Business

Zag. Par.

59.57 65.71

6.14

3.06

2.01

+

Friends

Zag. Par.

56.02 | | 5.85 61.87 J

3.11

1.88

—

Zag.

51.77 |

Par.

58.51 J

6.94

3.14

2.21

4-

15.64 1 } 1.84 17.48 ]

3.72

0.49

—

Neighbours

Marriage (own)

. . . . Zag.

Migrant

Marriage (children's). Zag. Par.

TABLE XII. — Difference in the favourable attitudes towards village and town between Zagorians and Parians.

and moral aspects of life(4). The small difference (4.30%) shown for the Parians is not statistically significant as its critical ratio is 1.56 (S.E. = 2.76). The difference in percentage (2.87) between Zagorians and Parians, who fear that the future of their children will not be better in the town is on the borderline of significance (t = 2.16, S:E. 1.33). In this respect, Parians appear more optimistic as only one person does not expect a better future for his children (Table XIII). General and technical education are the main aspects of life in the town which the migrants think will provide their children with a better future. Social position and economic condition come second. Then follow, raising a family, character, personal happiness and health. The conclusion to be drawn

Attitudes

Migrants Children's future

on the rural-urban

The whole group N

Better in the town . . . 353 7 Not better in the town Don't know 25

85

dimension

Zagorians

Parians

%

N

%

N

%

91. 69 1. 82 6. 49

160 6 13

89.39 3.35 7.26

193 1 12

93. 69 0.,48 5..83

30. 91 88. 57 66. 49 90.,13 83.,12 69..61 84 .15 63 .12

32 158 110 154 140 111 144 102

17.88 88.27 61.45 86.03 78.21 62.01 80.45 56.98

87 183 146 193 180 157 180 141

42..23 88,.83 70,.87 93 .69 87,.38 72,.21 87 .38 68 .45

Better in the town in : Health Education Character Vocational skill Economic condition .. Raising a family Social position Personal happiness ..

119 341 256 347 320 268 324 243

TABLE Xni. — The future in the town of the migrants' children evaluated by their parents.

from the order in which these aspects are evaluated is that, in spite of the economic difficulties which the migrants themselves have faced and which have forced them to migrate, what they wish for their children is not money but learning. This fact makes one think that, although uneducated, the migrants have understood that education is the best investment for the nation, through which the economic and social status of its citizens can be raised.

2. Of the non-migrant villagers The way in which the migrants evaluate their own migration and the attitudes they have towards urban life has been set out above. This chapter deals with the findings of a small study concerning the attitudes towards internal migration of villagers in Zagori and Paros. The subjects of this study, which can be considered on its own, are 974 persons living in the 43 villages of Zagori and in the 8 villages

86

The Internal

Migrant

of Paros, and forming 6.10% of the total population. In selecting the sample care was taken to see that all the villages were represented, that the age of the subjects approached as far as possible the normal distribution and that each subject was related as closely as possible by kinship or close acquaintance to one or more of the migrants of the last decade. Thus the age of the subjects varies from 14 to 84 years, the mean being 44.70 and the standard deviation 17.15. There is no statistically significant difference between the age of the 456 men and 518 women, the means of the age distributions being 44.90 for men and 44.41 for women, which gives a critical ratio of 0.44. The degree of kinship or relationship between the subjects and the migrants is as follows : N % 445 45.69 — Parents, children, spouses and in-laws 236 24.23 — Siblings, grand-parents and in-laws — Relatives (more distant) 85 8.73 — Friends and acquaintances 208 21.35 These people are mainly farmers, fishermen, labourers, salesmen and housewives. The following questions were put orally to each of them during interviews, which took place at the village : 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Why has the migrant left? Was he right to leave his village? Yes No Do you want to leave too? Yes No For good Temporarily Why do you want to leave?

Analysis and interpretation of the data : Nearly all the subjects approve of the migrant's departure as indicated below : N % Migrant was right to leave 916 94.05 Migrant was not right to leave 32 3.28 Don't know 26 2.67

Attitudes on the rural-urban

87

dimension

This almost unanimous approval of the migrant's departure may give rise to the suspicion that it does not represent the real feelings of the subjects, but was given through the fear of possibly unpleasant consequences for the migrant. This may be true, because Greeks are not used to social investigations and are therefore afraid of interviewers whom they take for the police, tax-inspectors, etc. The only contra-indication we have is the great number of those who want to migrate (556 or 57.08% of all the subjects). If they themselves want to migrate at such an advanced age — the mean of the age distribution

Migrants

N

%

diff.

S.E.

t

Of the whole group : Want to migrate

556

57.08 |

Do not want to migrate . . . 418

42.91 J

J

14.17

1.58

8.97

41.60

2.30

18.07

3.80

2.07

1.83

63.82 1 j 27.64 36.18 J

2.25

12.28

Zagorians : Want to migrate

277

70.30 1

Do not want to migrate . . .

117

29.70 j

279

48.10

Do not want to migrate . . . 301

51.90

Parians : Want to migrate

Men : Want to migrate

291

Do not want to migrate . . .

165

Women : Want to migrate

265

Do not want to migrate . . . 253

51.74 1 | 48.26 )

3.48

2.19

1.59

T A B L E XIV. — Wish to migrate according to sex and place of origin.

88

The Internal

Migrant

being 44.70 — why should they not approve of the departure of the migrants who are far younger? The mean of the age distribution of the migrants is 33.05 and the difference between the two means 11.65, which has a critical ratio of 15.74 and is valid (S.E. = 0.74). Similar attitudes were found in other parts of Greece by other investigators, who state that villagers "wish for their children what is impossible for them". Thus 70% of the parents think of pushing their children to migration inside and outside the country(5). From Table XIV, which gives the percentage difference together with its significance between those who want and those who do not want to migrate in each group, we may deduce : a) That more people want to migrate than do not — the critical ratio of the difference is statistically valid. b) That the wish to migrate is stronger in Zagori than in Paros — the critical ratio of the difference between the percentages of those who want and those who do not want to migrate is statistically valid in the Zagori but not in the Paros group. c) More men than women want to migrate — the critical ratio between the percentages of the two variables being high and statistically valid for the men, but very low and invalid for the women. This significant association between sex and wish for departure is also proved through correlation methods, x2 being 15.80 for 1 df and P =0.05. There is a statistically significant association between the age of the subjects and their wish to depart, x2 being as high as 81.02 for 4 df and P = 0.05, C is 0.28. The same association is indicated by comparing the distributions of ages of those who want and those who do not want to migrate. The means of the distributions are 40.39 for the first category and 50.40 for the second. Their difference of 10.01 has a 9.81 critical ratio, which means that it is statistically valid. Of the 556 persons who want to migrate, 434 or 78.06% want to leave for good, 97 persons or 17.45% want to leave temporarily and 25 or 4.49% do not fix the length of time. As to the length of the period of migration, there is a statistically significant difference in percentage between those who want to migrate from Zagori and those who want to migrate from Paros, the Zagorians being more determined to leave for good, as is indicated below.

Attitudes

on the rural-urban

89

dimension

Want to migrate permanently : N ?8°rianS Panans

™ 185

%

diff.

] 23.58 66.31 I

S.D. 3.45

t 6.83

There is a close association between the wish for departure and the degree of kinship between the villager and the migrant, %2 being as high as 61.68, with 3 df, P=0.05 and C = 0.24, which means that, other things being equal, the wish for departure is conditioned by the existence of a migrant in the family, provided that he keeps in touch with his village relatives as he usually does (6).

Reasons for wishing to migrate

Zagorians N %

Parians N %

Total N %

To study To educate my children. To find work To avoid the life of the village To live better To get married To be near my people .. For the sake of my health To be freer To see new places None

10 3.61 1 0.36 104 37.54

8 2.87 7 2.51 80 28.67

18 3.23 8 1.43 184 33.09

33 11.91 70 25.27 1 0.36 45 16.24

13 4.66 56 20.07 4 1.43 79 28.32 8 2.87 1 0.36 10 3.58 13 4.66

46 8.27 126 22.66 5 0.89 124 22.30 8 1.43 1 0.17 10 1.79 26 4.67

—

—

—

—

—

—

13 277

4.69

279

556

TABLE XV. — Reasons for wishing to migrate.

First in percentage ranking of reasons for wishing to migrate (Table XV) comes the purpose of finding work with a proportion of 33.09% or 2.21 above the mean of villagers Second in percentage ranking, come those who are in search of a better life, with a proportion of 22.66% or 1.16 above the mean. Third in percentage ranking, with a

90

The Internal

Migrant

proportion only slightly smaller, 22.30%, come those who want to be near their family, especially their children who have settled in the town. Fourth in percentage ranking, constituting a far smaller proportion, come those giving other reasons. Thus, work, or a better life, which to some extent is based upon work and longing for one's own people are the main factors which determine the migration of the villagers of Zagori and of Paros. The answers to the question "Why have you left the village?" given by the 840 Zagorian and Parian migrants*, point to a similar conclusion. Work and a better life are at the top of the scale of the reasons they give, but in this case work comes second and a better life first in order of preference, with a small difference (4.05) in percentage. This may be the result of the adjustment of the migrants to this new environment, which makes them like the life of the town and unconsciously project it upon their original motives. Of the 556 persons who stated that they wanted to migrate 213 or 38.31% gave exactly the same reasons as those for which their relatives or fellow - villagers had left. The rest, 343 or 61.69%, gave different reasons, the critical ratio of the difference in percentage (23.38) between the two groups being 11.35. This indicates that for the majority of the villagers the wish to depart has a stronger motive than that of mere imitation or family tradition, at least as far as the reasons for departure are concerned. This, also, indicates a strong self-determination, which in the case of external migration is weak or entirely absent. From the above table of reasons for not wishing to migrate it is obvious that for the group as a whole and for Parians, a preference for village-life is the biggest factor in non-migration, while for Zagorians the existence of property and work at the village is the biggest factor. Old age comes third in the scale of reasons given by the whole group and by Zagorians, while it comes second in the scale of reasons stated by Parians. For Zagorians the fear of the unknown as a reason for not leaving has priority over the existence of family in the village but for Parians, the order of priority is reversed. These observations accord with the personal characteristics of Zagorians who regard work and the wealth it creates, as the most * Cf. above, Ch. V, p. 59 ff.

Attitudes on the rural-urban

91

dimension

important component of the feeling of security which is the basis of happiness. On the other hand, Parians give the impression of being sensitive people who seek satisfaction in life as it is — ' life better in the village' — and thus for them a preference for village-life would be expected to be the biggest factor in non-migration. They also consider the existence of family in the village as a stronger tie than the fear of the unknown, while for Zagorians there is a long tradition of leaving one's family and going elsewhere, usually abroad, to find work.

Reasons for not

Zagorians

Parians

Total

wishing to migrate

N

%

N

%

N

%

Life better at the village Property and work at the village Old age Fear of the unknown.. Family in the village... None

25

21..37

76

25..25

101

24. 16

36 23 17 10 6

30..77 19 .66 14.,53 8..55 5. 13

64 67 42 43 9

21,.26 22 .26 13,.95 14 .29 2..99

100 90 59 53 15

23..92 21..53 14..11 12..68 3.,59

TABLE XVI. — Reasons for not wishing to migrate.

Many of those who did not want to migrate, gave their reasons in a hypothetical and negative form, e.g. — — — —

If I If I If I If I

knew that I could work in the t o w n . . . were younger... had a relative or a friend in the t o w n . . . could afford life in the t o w n . . .

and so on, which means that even among those who have answered negatively some wish to migrate, but probably do not have the courage to do so. Concerning the reasons for and against migration, it is interesting to examine also some other statements made by Zagorians and Parians.

92

The Internal

Migrant

I. By those who wanted to migrate. Zagorians — How are we to live here? We don't even have a cigarette to smoke... (age 40, agricultural worker) — Why stay here?... to die? (age 58, agricultural worker) — In the town, it is easy to find a piece of bread... (age 28, shepherd) — In the town, one finds work and money (age 28, agricultural worker) — We have no work. The state has taken our forests... (age 54, woodcutter) Parians — We want to settle in Athens to be able to live (age 46, housewife) — Agriculture does not give anything. We are always in debt, (age 56, agricultural worker) — We cannot live here. Very few people have been left behind, (age 20, without work) — Everybody says that it is better in Athens. Thus, the one follows the other... (age 18, without work). — We cannot live here. We suffer. Everyone is going. This is a God-forsaken place, (age 56, agricultural worker) — To g o . . . to make a fortune, (age 22, agricultural worker) II. By those who did not want to migrate. Zagorians — Life is calm here... — If I had work in the town I could go, now I can't. Here we have a standing... (age 55, housewife) — How could I live in the town? Even here it is ' from hand to mouth'... (age 55, housewife) — I am an old woman. What shall I do in a strange place? (age 64, housewife) — My work and interests hold me back... (age 36, school-teacher, male) — We are happy with our life here (age 49, housewife) Parians — We cannot live in the town, without having a house and someone to help u s . . . (age 41, housewife)

Attitudes

— — — — —

on the rural-urban

dimension

93

Athens is for the young, not for us. (age 60, housewife) Here is my village, my country... (age 64, agriculturist) I have my shop, therefore I can manage here (age 39, shop-keeper). I am old n o w . . . my old woman is h e r e . . . (age 70, no work) It is too late to go now (age 52, father of a migrant).

Such statements, which are representative of the reasons given by the 418 Zagorians and Parians who did not want to migrate, amplify more vividly the reasons listed in Table XVI. Both the standardized reasons of Table XVI and the quotations lead us to the conclusion that, apart from some cases, (216 or 22.18%) of the total, both Parians and Zagorians show a tendency towards migration but a tendency that is conditioned by age, by economic situation and by emotional ties.

3.

F i n d i n g s

a) Of the migrants. 1. The majority of the migrants are satisfied with their own migration, which is also approved of by their fellow-villagers. 2. The majority of the migrants prefer town life to village life. 3. Criteria for evaluating life on the village-town dimension are mainly economic and emotional but in reverse order for each pole of the dimension, i.e., economic for the town, emotional for the village. 4. The migrants are in high spirits as the majority expect to improve unaided their economic condition. They also expect a better future for their children. 5. The social distance scale has shown that the majority of the migrants are neither prejudiced against villagers nor townspeople. 6. The attitudes of the migrants are influenced neither by place of origin, nor by sex, or length of stay in the town. In some cases age alone appears to have any influence.

94

The Internal

Migrant

b) Of the non-migrant villagers. 1. Almost all the subjects interviewed approved of the departure of the migrants. 2. The majority of the subjects wanted to migrate. 3. The tendency towards migration and the determination to do so is stronger in Zagori than in Paros. 4. Factors influencing the wish for migration positively or negatively are: sex, age, economic and social status, family ties, relationship with migrants. 5. Stronger reasons for migration are the need for work and the desire for a better life. 6. Stronger reasons against migration are attachment to the village and the existence of property and work in it. From the above findings we may formulate the following hypothesis : Given satisfactory economic conditions, the inhabitants of the villages would stop migrating to the towns. This hypothesis is not verified by the data provided by this investigation, because the wish for migration appears to have two poles: the need for work and for the relief of financial hardship on the part of the less wealthy; the need for a change in life and the pursuit of affluence on the part of the more wealthy. Thus we are not yet in a position to predict whether or not an improvement in the econom'f condition of individuals will increase the desire for migration from village to town.

Attitudes

on the rural-urban

dimension

95

REFERENCES 1. Sanders, I. T., Rainbow in the Rock, Cambridge : Harvard University Press, 1962, p. 312. 2. Sanders, I.T., op. cit., Pp. 314-316. 3. Bogardus, E.S., Measuring social distances, J. Applied Sociology, 1924-25, 9, Pp. 229-308. 4. Mendras, H., Six Villages d'Epire — Problèmes de Développement économique, Paris: UNESCO, 1961, Pp. 44-45.

Socio-

5. Mendras, H., op. cit., p. 43. 6. National Statistical Service of Greece Report on the Exploratory Survey into Motivations and Circumstances of Rural Migration, A : 4, Population, Athens, 1962, Pp. 36-37. 7. Sanders, I.T., op. cit., p. 299. 8. Ward, B., ' H 'EXXtivikti nspipspeiaicn 'Avàjixuijiç, 'AGfjvai, : Ksvipov Oïko-

vouikwv 'Epeovcov, 1963, p. 28.

VII. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS Who, then, is the migrant? Now that the data from this investigation has been analyzed and interpreted, can we give an answer to the questions set out at the beginning of this study? Can we describe the migrant's needs and ambitions? Can we assess the forces by which he is conditioned? Can we understand his motivation? Can we define his values? In other words can we sketch his personality? Before attempting any description we must bear in mind that the findings of this investigation are within the frame of reference of Zagori and Paros. The migrant we have met in the town cames from these two small areas of Greece. There is nothing exceptional or extraordinary about him; his personality traits are those of the average Greek in a post-peasant society, who derives his values from the civilization of his epoch and tries to adjust himself to the rural-urban ecology. In recapitulation, we can point to the following important findings,* which may give impetus to broader or deeper investigations: 1. Age is a powerful factor influencing the tendency to migration and the migrant's attitudes to it and those of the villagers of Zagori and Paros. 2. The main motives for migration of the migrants and of the villagers are : (a) The desire for a better life in general (b) The search for work (c) The desire for general and/or technical education. 3. As between village and town there is a change in the economic level * Cf. pp. 14-15, 43-44, 56, 66, 93-94.

98

The Internal

Migrant

of the migrants, due to steady employment, better pay and better conditions of work. 4. The good adjustment of the migrants in the new environment can be seen in : (a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

Their efforts to improve their educational and cultural status. Their wish to hold office at the town level. Their favourable attitudes towards urban life. Their lack of prejudice towards the townspeople. Their optimism as reflected in their expectations of economic improvement through their own personal effort and for the future of their children,, for whom they most Value general and technical education.

5. The main differences between Zagorians and Parians are found in : (a) (b) (c) (d)

The greater poverty of Parians. The higher birth rate in Paros. The lower educational status of Parians. The higher degree of culture and progreSsiveness and the greater aspirations of the Zagorians.

6. There is no perceptible difference between Zagorians and Parians in their attitudes, values or degree of adjustment to new surroundings.

INDEX to AUTHORS

Bogardus E.S., 78, 95 EOeXrciSTii; Xp., 66 Friedl, E„ 15, 44, 57, 67 KAVE^WMOOXOI; A . , 2, 4 , 6 6

Kayser, B., 2, 4, 57, 66 Lacci, L., 66 MavouaiK N., 66 Mendras, H „ 44, 57, 66, 67, 82, 95 Ministry of Coordination, 57 Moustaka C., 4, 44 National Statistical Service of Greece 44, 52, 57, 66, 67, navaYicoxoTrou/.og n . , 66, 67 navcx; A., 66 n d t p a i ; A., 67 IlE7ie>.DOTI