Editorial Introduction to Special Issue on Fertility in the Context of Forced Migration, Ethnic Marginalisation and Recent Crises
2026-05-13
This paper is the editorial introduction to the Special Issue on “Fertility in the context of forced migration, ethnic marginalisation and recent crises.” The Special Issue contains six empirical papers that examine fertility behaviour and intentions in migrant and ethnic minority groups across European countries. The aim of bringing these papers together is to draw attention to similarities between different types of marginalised groups and their demographic responses to crises and disruptive events. The paper collection opens with two papers on international migrants and their fertility behaviours during the migration process and after arrival in European destination countries, with a focus on refugees. A second pair of papers focuses on fertility preferences among international migrants in specific vulnerable situations, namely uncertainty after war and in situations of economic and geopolitical instability. Finally, a third set of articles examines ethnic minority groups in two major countries bordering the European Union, exploring how their fertility outcomes relate to various external factors. In both contexts, minority status and ethnic marginalisation are intensified because these groups face particularly vulnerable situations due to external crises or political measures. This editorial introduction provides an overview of the similarities and differences between migrant and autochthonous ethnic minority groups in Europe, summarises the empirical and theoretical contributions of the Special Issue and concludes with implications and suggestions for future research.