Return migration from Venezuela to Europe: Back to the Roots?

Abstract

The exodus from Venezuela increased in intensity until the Covid-19 pandemic. Arrivals in Europe were significantly lower than in Latin America, but also grew and displayed a shift in composition, including a decreasing percentage of people with European origins. This study investigates migration from Venezuela to Spain, Italy and Hungary, in the 21st century. It begins with a detailed theoretical framework and then examines the particular migratory flows. The analysis covers the major features of these migration moves, including antecedents, reasons and motivations, size, geographical distribution and indicators related to integration. Mixed methods are used, both qualitative and quantitative. Findings show that current emigration from Venezuela to Spain, Italy and Hungary can be considered as return migration because original flows existed in the 19th and 20th centuries, and actual counterflows not only incorporate descendants of immigrants but are also based on the existing migratory systems and networks between these countries.