O desaparecimento de Alain :movimento e pertencimento na vida de um migrante

Abstract

This work is an investigation on the construction of belonging in the life of a migrant. The investigation is theoretically grounded in the Phenomenological Sociology (Alfred Schütz), the Sociology of Knowledge (Peter Berger, Thomas Luckmann), and the Sociology of Processes and Figurations (Norbert Elias). The biographical narrative interview method of the German tradition (Frits Schütze, Gabriele Rosenthal) is used in the reconstruction of an empirical case, which encompasses the analysis of a Haitian migrant’s life and of its family in Haiti, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. Therefore empirically grounded knowledge on the constitution of feelings of belonging in the life trajectory of a Haitian migrant in Brazil is possible. Based on the analysis of the empirical case, a few remarks that put in question traditionally used categories in the migration field of studies arise from the case reconstruction. The research points towards the existence of a type of return migrant that is uncommon in migration studies, for his return is planned taking into account the country for which the migrant developed his sense of belonging. These feelings are expressed through his will to become president of his nation in order to help the people of his homeland. This type of migrant has traits of national leadership, whose sense of belonging was forged through its displacement across international frontiers.