Emotions and migration in social media discourse: A new Greek migrant case study

Abstract

Since the onset of the Greek economic crisis in 2010, thousands of highly educated and skilled Greeks have migrated abroad in search of better career prospects and living standards. This recent migratory wave has been termed ‛new’ Greek migration (Panagiotopoulou et al., 2019). The lives of new Greek migrants are characterised by a mélange of conflicting emotions: loss of belonging, irritation at Greek policies and mentalities, and suffering for the family who remains in Greece facing the crisis, on the one hand; hopes of new beginnings and potential for new opportunities and fulfilling one's goals in the host country, on the other. Drawing on insights from the constructionist approach to emotions, discourse analysis, and online ethnography, this paper looks at how a new Greek migrant in the UK conveys across social media his emotions towards specific events and people both in Greece and the UK. The findings showcase social media's vital role in allowing, mobilising and sharing affective expression. They also shed light on the broader discursive and emotional aspects of new Greek migration.