Will they still be dancing? (1982)

communities in Scandinavia for a period of almost two decades. Migration
abroad has caused great social and material changes in the villages of origin,
and differential forms of integration are developing among Wallachians in
Scandinavia. However, neither changes in Yugoslavia nor Scandinavia can be
understood without reference to the total social field ofmigrancy involving the
"hinterland" as well as the immigration country. In this section we shalltreat
some aspects ofWallachian migrancy seen from the perspective of the "hinterland":
1) the social organization of the migration process, 2) the material
reproduction of ties to the hinterland, and 3) the ceremonial confirmation
involved.
Social Organization
Wallachians form a relatively closely integrated ethnic minority group in
Scandinavia, maintaining an intensive internal social and cultural life. In
Sweden and Denmark, Wallachians settled down in a number of provincial
towns, close to one another on each side of the 6resund, the strait dividing the
two countries.
In Sweden, Wallachians mix with other Yugoslav immigrant groups in
Yugoslav immigrant associations, where they most often form a minority. In
Denmark, however, Wallachians form a majority in a number of associations
and are as a whole more integrated as an ethnic minority group with their own
institutions. "Swedish" Wallachians often go to Denmark, where together
with "Danish" Wallachians they celebrate important Yugoslav holidays.
Wallachians in Scandinavia have built up their own Wallachian cultural scene,
embracing the two Wallachian groups across the Danish-Swedish border. They
marry within these joint Scandinavian groups or "import" spouses from the
country of origin.
Even the Wallachian migrant definition of "household" bears witness to the
continued unity of hinterland and immigration community as a single social
field. After almost 15 years of emigration-interrupted by obligatory visits to
Yugoslavia-both young and old describe themselves as belonging to one
(multigenerational) household, with its roots in the village of origin and with
some or all members working temporarily abroad. We have met no
Wallachians who definitely claim that Scandinavia has become their new
home. Even for families where all members are working or living abroad for a
long time, the house and the homestead in Yugoslavia remain the focus for
their social identity and the central index of social status. The ultimate rationale
for a prolonged exodus and continued migrancy is to return to the point
of departure of the migratory cycle-I.e. to return "home" for good and
reestablish oneself in the community of origin.
An embracing interpersonal network uniting community of immigration
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