COMPLETION REPORT
From Entrepreneurship to Political activities: Self-Transformation and Theorizing Reintegration Processof Indonesian Return Migrant from Japan
Mr. Paulus Rudolf Yuniarto
Associate Professor
Indonesian Institute of Sciences
Indonesian return-migrants from Japan who shift their careers from migrant work to entrepreneurship areinfluenced by four conditions: [1] the shared experience that links return-migrants to their homelands; [2]knowledge accumulation; [3] consciousness/self-awareness; and [4] the social media. Migration abroad enables
them to engage in entrepreneurship knowledge exchange that supports their business orientations at home.
Knowledge accumulation can be interpreted as the formation of management and business expertise that include
financial planning that support the development of entrepreneurial activities; this condition supported by selfconsciousness after migration for better future. Consciousness refers to the memory of the home, and suchawareness is reflected when return-migrants pay attention to events that take place in their vicinity, especially thosethat centre on improved living in the future. Return-migrants also using the social media proficiency (such asFacebook, blog site, LINE, and Whatsaap group) as a channel or avenue from which to obtain information orimprove their networking.
Successful migration can enhance self-status and transform one from migrant worker to entrepreneur and local
activist. The benefits gained from migration and success in business at home village can be used to accessresources, enhance social standing, and facilitate symbolic resistance to unfair practices, thus improving theconditions of migrant workers and their families. Entrepreneurship at home is one of the important sources ofreturn-migrant access to network and knowledge—a way of sharing success, motivating, mentoring, initiating
financial support activities, helping with other return-migrants’ difficulties—all of these functions elevate returnmigrants entrepreneur to the status of folks best friend’ within the community.
The synergy of return-migrants entrepreneurship and activism in village community can provide an example thatwould be very useful for stakeholders (e.g., NGO activists, academia, and government) who wish to encourage
programmes related to migrant worker pre-departure and reintegration information. The social aspect from thissynergy is important for enhancing the well-being in the future of Indonesian migrant workers in a host-homecountry. The role of Indonesian return-migrant in ‘positive’ social and economic activities can be applied in otherreturn-migrant home village, whereas migrant workers in many countries will return home.
This study summarizes that the return migration, entrepreneurship, and social activities of Indonesian returnmigrants from Japan in their home villages by using three patterns – the three Rs, return, remittance, and rebirth. In
this case, return-migrants are the actors because they provide the remittances of working abroad. Besides sending
money, they remit new patterns of values, behaviors, and practices from their overseas experiences. They have thecompetency and capacity to perceive how international labor migration may affect other people, viewing it from awider context other than merely its contribution to the local economy. Within this international migration
sequential process, small enterprises have emerged as critical sources of livelihood for return-migrants in homevillages, compared to other job opportunities. Hence, a returnee can literally experience rebirth. By taking into
account the situation before departure, overseas experiences, return, and post-return conditions, the three Rs ofmigration are shown as a dynamic social process comprising the individual development of migrants, theirsignificant role in bringing about social and economic changes, and their successful reintegration into society.

Publication of the Results of Research Project:
Verbal Presentation (Date, Venue, Name of Conference, Title of Presentation, Presenter, etc.)
Yuniarto, Paulus Rudolf. Going Back Home and Farming: Return-Migrant and Home Village Economic
Activities in Rural Landscape. The 24th International Conference of Agrifood Research Network. 2 – 5December 2017, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Indonesia.
Thesis (Name of Journal and its Date, Title and Author of Thesis, etc.)
Yuniarto, Paulus Rudolf. 2017. Adaptasi Strategis dan Kewirausahaan Para Pekerja Migran Indonesia
di Desa Asalnya [Strategic Adaptation and Entrepreneurship of Indonesian Return Migrants in their HomeVillage]. Jurnal Analisis Sosial. Volume 20, No. 1 & 2. 165 – 182.
Book (Publisher and Date of the Book, Title and Author of the Book, etc.)