A New Life, or Shadows of the Past? Everyday Emotional Experiences of Forcibly Displaced Kurdish Immigrants

Emotional experiences have been heavily discussed in migration studies in recent years. The role played by emotions is significant in comprehending the experiences and social interactions of immigrants in their daily lives. Drawing on studies of Kurdish immigrants forcibly displaced as a result of political conflict and state violence, the study engages with the following research questions: What emotions do Kurdish immigrants experience in their everyday routine? What experiences produce these emotions? How do the lived experiences of Kurdish immigrants affect their emotional experiences? The available studies are discussed in the context of ‘emotion-producing situations or events’, ‘emotional culture’ and ‘lived experiences’. The research questions are explored through a systematic review method intertwined with a narrative synthesis and a thematic analysis process of available literature. This study illustrates how emotional experiences caused by pre-migratory push factors are reflected in immigrants’ post-immigration social interactions. It demonstrates the difference between emotional experiences created by resolved and persisting issues in immigrants’ daily lives by drawing attention to emotion-producing situations. It further notes how reinforced general cultural beliefs and normative expectations reflect on immigrants.