Lebanese Returnees

This graduate thesis explores some of the distinctive features of Lebanese return migration across two generational groups, one above forty-five years of age, the other under thirty years of age who returned anytime from 1990 to 2004. Particular focus is placed on the perspectives of the returnees themselves and on how they identify and account for the reasons for their return and for the problems and circumstances they face in making their reentry. The study largely relies on retrospective semi structured interviews to provide an in-depth qualitative understanding of the subjective experiences they go through. The analysis reassess the adequacy of some of the conventional conceptual perspectives and proposes the triangulation of some of these perspectives with the use of grounded theory.

Autorentext

A returnee herself, Nathalie has experienced Lebanese return migration and emigration first hand. She is both a McGill and AUB sociology graduate. Having lived in Cyprus, Lebanon and Canada and having travelled widely, Nathalie understands that home is not always found in one place but where several loved places can be combined into one.