Invisible guests

Yugoslav seasonal workers in the Swiss Alps 1970-1991

Yugoslav-Swiss labor migration hardly plays a role in research, despite its dominance among the population. While Germany and Austria have been addressing the topic for some time, seasonal work in general and Yugoslavian seasonal work in particular is still a blind spot in Switzerland. This dissertation examines the everyday history of Yugoslavian seasonal workers in the Swiss Alpine region from 1970-1991 on the basis of three Alpine resorts. In the spirit of the new cultural history, the individual is not viewed separately from the structure, but as an actor in an interweaving of economy, politics and culture. Accordingly, quantitative and qualitative methods are used. Around 20 interviews complement the archive visits at federal, cantonal and municipal level. In addition, the Arhiv Jugoslavije in Belgrade is consulted in order to compare terms such as "qualification" or "guest work" and to shed light on the recruitment processes from a Yugoslavian perspective. The dissertation project thus not only closes a gap in Swiss migration history, but is also a fundamental investigation in the direction of a Swiss history that does justice to the population. It also provides existential foundations for future migration research.