ABSTRACT
International migration, particularly over long distances and to developed countries, was once considered to be unidirectional (Gmelch 1980), and the migrants involved as having “no ‘home’ to go back to” (Hall 1987, 44). The “myth of return” referenced the idea that immigrants usually stayed on permanently in the receiving country even when their stated intention was to return to the country of origin. Traditionally, return migration was not considered a deliberate and intentional move on the part of successful migrants. However, the movements of migrants and immigrants are now recognized as having multiple directions, including that of return.
