Routes, hubs, and sites in travel & migration

In the paper we trace how Macedonia and Serbia strategically positioned themselves regarding the government of transit migration though their territory by dynamically shifting between humanitarianism and securitization before the formalized corridor emerged, during its existence, in the process of its closure, and after it was shut down. This is not to say that precise dates can be pinpointed to distinguish these “phases”: the emergence of the formalized corridor in the south of the Balkan route, for example, was a dynamic process which resulted from the interplay of state practices, practices of mobility, activities of activists, volunteers, and NGOs, media coverage, etc. The same applies for its closure. However, the text follows a diachronic line in which we describe the contextual factors that decisively shaped the transformation of the migration policies of the two states. It focuses in particular on transportation practices, accommodation, (in)visibility of migrants, activity of (non-)state actors, unique national instruments (such as the 72-hours paper), the One Stop centres and the transit zones at the Serbian-Hungarian border.

The aim of this 24-month Fellowship is to explore how refugees and refugee solidarity groups along the “Balkan route” relate to and enact European citizenship. While the project of European citizenship is an unprecedented political development, it has institutionally been modelled upon and reproduces national conceptualisations of citizenship, rights and identity. The research will undertake a comparative analysis of discourses and practices of refugees and pro-refugee volunteers in both EU and non-EU sites, and of the way in which they challenge concepts and institutions of European citizenship derived from national models of membership. It will pay particular attention to the relationship between “movement” and the constitution of new European political subjectivities. The main objectives of this study are (1) to engage in a critical examination of the processes and institutions of European citizenship with a specific focus on countries of the “Balkan route”; (2) to develop a cross-national and cross-local perspective on solidarity practices with refugees that have emerged along the Balkan route; (3) to investigate “acts of citizenship” emerging from both EU and non-EU citizens in relation to refugee mobilities and to assess their implication for European citizenship; (4) To develop analytical and theoretical frames to reflect on new politics of solidarity in Europe and the way in which they contest exclusionary readings of Europe; and (5) to contribute to conceptual debates on citizenship, the governance of migration and social movements and solidarity in the EU and beyond. In the current context of uncertainty regarding the future of the EU, these questions appear of rising urgency. This study proposes to address these issues through ethnographic research with a range of pro-refugee initiatives in Hungary, Serbia and Greece, three countries at the heart of the Balkan route yet which hold different historical and political relationships to “Europe” and the EU.

Amid rising numbers of asylum seekers arriving in the EU and migrating along the Balkan route in 2015, state, EU and traditional NGO institutions failed to adequately receive, register and care for the new arrivals. Instead, volunteers stepped in to provide humanitarian assistance. They are locals as well as citizens from other European countries who engage with the crisis for a variety of reasons, in a range of contexts and with varying consequences. This research project will examine personal motives, social structures and political conditions of volunteering for refugees in countries along the so-called Balkan route: in Greece, in Slovenia, and in former Yugoslav countries. Based on political process tracing, sociological-ethnographic observations and semi-structured interviews with volunteers, officials, locals and refugees we will devise country reports that will create the basis for a comparative study. Thus, we will interrogate whether we can witness in this refugee policies ’from below’ the creation of a particular, pro-immigration and human rights based European civil society or social movement.

Humanitäre Nothilfe in Flüchtlingslagern ist in Afrika keine Ausnahmesituation. Seit einem halben Jahrhundert prägen Flüchtlingslager die Geschichte des Kontinents. Von der Entstehung des UNO Flüchtlingswerks (UNCHR, 1951) bis zu den heutigen Flüchtlingswellen aus der Zentralafrikanischen Republik nach Kamerun (2014) haben sich Flüchtlingslager als das dominante standardisierte Instrument für die Versorgung und Unterbringung von Flüchtlingen durchgesetzt. Anthropologen, Soziologen, Politologen und Geographen haben bereits wichtige Studien zu Flüchtlingslagern vorgelegt, historische Untersuchungen sind jedoch bisher ein Forschungsdesiderat. Das hier vorgestellte Projekt untersucht Flüchtlingslager als technisches Dispositiv der globalisierten humanitären Hilfe. Es analysiert wie seit der Gründung des UNHCR im Jahre 1951 ein Ensemble von physischen Artefakten (Zelte, Kits, Gegenständen), wissenschaftlichen Komponenten (Handbücher, Verfahren, Statistiken), Normen (Regeln, rechtlichen Kategorien) und Experten (Ingenieure, Ärzte, Stadtplaner, Architekten) entstanden ist. Das Projekt analysiert zunächst die Kontroversen um die Planung von Flüchtlingslagern, zweitens die Standardisierung von Verfahren, und drittens die kreative Anpassung der Lagertechniken durch die Hilfsempfänger. Empirisch konzentriert sich das Vorhaben auf drei Aspekte der Lagertechnologien: a) das Screening von Flüchtlingen, die durch die Auswertung der technical mission reports im Archiv von UNHCR in Genf Archiven analysiert wird; b) die Konzeption und Planung von Modelllagern, deren Entstehung in der Grauliteratur und Handbüchern des UNHCR nachgegangen wird und c) die Frage der Zuteilung der Hilfe, die durch Feldforschung und Experteninterviews in den Flüchtlingslagern um Meiganga (Nordosten von Kamerun) herausgearbeitet werden soll. Dieses Projekt kann als historische Analyse einen wichtigen Beitrag zum Schwerpunktprogramm leisten, indem es das Flüchtlingslager als Technik der humanitären Ordnung untersucht. Flüchtlingslager verknüpfen verschiedene Bereiche (Gesundheit, soziale Kategorisierung, juristische Normen, Sicherheitsfragen) und vernetzen verschiedene Akteure und Interessen (Experten, NGO Angestellte, Flüchtlinge, lokale Bevölkerung, usw.). Sie sind daher in ein gutes Beispiel, um die Artikulation von Visionen globaler Ordnungen und lokale Ordnungskonstellationen zu studieren.

This project examines the daily governance of ‘transit’ migration by Turkish political and security professionals at the European Union (EU) borders. It draws upon a sociological approach that focuses on migration and border management practices by Turkish authorities within everyday forms of ‘risk’ governance. In particular, the research explores the two-way influence of EU and Turkish risk ‘perceptions’ and risk ‘technologies’ in relation to transit migration and investigates how such interaction affects daily experiences of migrants and gives way to new intentions, struggles and mobilities. The research applies a triangulated methodology based on genealogy, qualitative interviews and ethnographic research. Data collection will take place at Turkey's two land border crossing points and at one sea border crossing point with the EU as well as in Ankara. Thus, the project is empirically, theoretically and methodologically original and makes a timely intervention into current debates over migration pressures facing the EU from Turkish territories, especially with regard to the increasing number of Syrian refugees in Turkey and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The research will take place at the University of Amsterdam under the supervision of Prof. Marieke de Goede, who is an advanced scholar in risk and security governance in Europe. The fellowship will significantly impact on my academic skills through a two-way transfer of knowledge with the host institution that has substantial expertise in critical security studies. It will enhance my career options in finding a tenure-track position in Europe as I will dedicate my time to deepen my academic knowledge, make international, peer-reviewed publications and expand my international network. The research will add to the European research excellence in critical security studies and produce results with the societal impact of raising awareness about Turkey becoming a key country of transit migration and immigration

The project examines the treatment of third-country nationals at the external borders of the European Union in light of the existing fundamental rights framework. Two specific situations are taken into consideration: (1) treatment of third country nationals on the Southern maritime borders of the European Union (Phase I) and (2) treatment of third country nationals at selected land and airport border crossing points (Phase 2). The geographical scope of the research in Phase 1 covers 7 maritime border sectors in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain; while in Phase 2 - eleven border crossing points at the external Schengen border, including six land border crossing points (BCPs between Bulgaria and Turkey, between Greece and Turkey, between Slovakia and Ukraine, between Hungary and Serbia, between Poland and Ukraine and between Spain and Morocco, and five border crossing points at selected airports (Paris C.d.Gaulle, Amsterdam/Schiphol, Rome/ Fiumicino, Frankfurt and Manchester). Phase 1 (Maritime borders) Objectives • to examine challenges that emerge during interception and rescue at sea and immediately after disembarkation of migrants • to enhance the protection of fundamental rights during rescue or interception operations at sea, by supporting those in charge of border management to deal with the fundamental rights challenges they may encounter on a daily basis. In Phase 1 the study is based on qualitative research with third country nationals, authorities, fishermen and shipmasters, non-participant observation at maritime borders, and focus group interviews with stakeholder groups, both in EU and third countries. Phase 2 (Land and airport border crossing points) Objectives • to review existing procedures and practices in order to identify whether third-country nationals are treated in accordance with applicable fundamental rights standards (complementation of the Schengen Evaluation system) • to review if commitments related to the Schengen Borders Code (respect for human dignity, non-refoulement, non-discriminatory conduct) are respected during first and second line border checks as well as in facilities used for persons refused admission. In Phase 2 the study is based on non-participant observation at border crossing points, quantitative and qualitative research with third country nationals, and interviews with civil society actors. Outcomes Maritime border research Empirical case studies (phase 1) • 7 case studies of maritime border sectors • 5 sets of country fact sheets (maritime borders), covering 7 themes • Comparative report of fundamental rights challenges relating to surveillance and control of maritime borders Human rights training related to rescue and interception at sea • 5 country reports on Fundamental Rights training • Recommendations for training of border guards Land and air border research • 11 case studies of border crossing points • 9 sets of country fact sheets on 4 themes • Comparative report on border crossing points