040 - Skilled Mobility and the return of scientists from abroad – Policies and practices in Croatia

040 - Skilled Mobility and the return of scientists from abroad – Policies and practices in Croatia

Caroline Hornstein-Tomić

(Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar, Zagreb)

(Abstract)

Like other countries with large diasporas and concerns about increasing brain drain also Croatia has recently invested into developing further diaspora outreach and return policies particularly targeting the highly skilled. The paper will present recent brain drain / circulation dynamics. It will from there take a comparative look into brain gain-policies and related programs and critically raise the question of their sustainability.

Narrative interviews with scientists who have recently returned to Croatia after longer periods abroad will provide argumentative basis from where to address the precarious relation of policy intentions and outcomes, by discussing experiences of (re-) integration, the role of networks and social capital, knowledge deficits / advantages / transfers, strategies of adaption, and spaces for change agency.

Paper presented at the First Croatian Emigration Congress, Zagreb 23 - 26 June 2014.