"A form of family relationship". On envy and other dark emotions among spanish emigrants in Switzerland

Abstract

For most Spanish emigrants, the post-war migration experience meant an improvement in their material living conditions. In some cases, it allowed a change from a situation of poverty and shame to one of well-being and pride. The move to a host country with a liberal society and a democratic regime allowed for considerable personal development. Yet, the long-term result of this new living condition was an asymmetry vis-à-vis the migrant’s family in the country of origin. The material or intellectual capital accumulated during migration may have altered family relationships and even challenged hierarchies within the same family. In some cases, emigrants (returnees) became lenders, creditors, sponsors and even employers at home. This article aims to address the sentiments expressed in a context of temporary return. Adopting an oral history perspective involving interviews with Spanish emigrants in Switzerland, the article studies the role of certain dark emotions, such as envy or shame in the individual accounts provided.