Pro-longed exile and potential integration processes in Croatia

The aim of this paper is to assess initial contact, social distance and int erethnic attitudes between refugee/displaced groups and Croatian host socie ty in Dalmatia as a predictor of possible integration processes. In spite o f many similarities between the analyzed groups (Bosnian refugees, displace d persons from Eastern Slavonia and Dalmatian population), sharing a period of common history and linguistic features that should facilitate integrati on, the results reveal complex and ambivalent attitudes of these groups, so cially differentiated by age, gender and education. The study indicates the need for major efforts in stimulating integration and enabling the develop ment of intercultural identities as a prerequisite for social stability.