Paper short abstract:

[no short abstract because it's not used at the conference]

Paper long abstract:

Analysing the widely spread image of paradisiacal Europe in Brazil this presentation reveals how much conceptual dichotomies can inscribe themselves into the reasoning of Brazilians, e.g. 'First' World vs. 'Third' World. It illustrates as well to which (inner) conflicts unfulfilled expectations of life in Europe can lead to. Furthermore a high valuation of everything European and a devaluation of everything Brazilian underlie the stated image of Europe.

Based on works of Stuart Hall, Pierre Bourdieu and postcolonial literature this presentation shows that the discourse of the 'West and the Rest' is effective beyond postcolonialism and still shapes thoughts, feelings and dreams of people. People migrating from the South to the praised North in search of a better life might appear to be taking a personally motivated and individual decision. However, these dreams and their eventual realizations are merely produced by discourse.