Podcast series
Third Generation
For the grandchildren of migrants, heritage is something inherited rather than lived. Who are the third generation Balkan diasporas?
About this series
Inherited identity?
The third generation of Balkan diaspora communities occupies a particular position: too distant from the original migration to have lived it, yet shaped by its consequences in ways that are often invisible. They may speak the language of their grandparents imperfectly, or not at all. They may have visited the country of origin once, or never.
This series explores how the third generation is forging its own relationship with Balkan heritage through language learning, cultural activism, return visits, and the creative work of making sense of a history that belongs to them but was not theirs to live. We speak with young people across Europe and North America about what diaspora identity means when it is no longer defined by displacement.
Episodes examine questions of authenticity, the politics of heritage, the role of social media in diaspora community-building, and what it means to grieve a country you have never lost.
Who are third generation Balkan diasporas?