The work will focus on forms of political activism taken on by refugees to partake in social discourse with their very own means and ways. By presenting their ideas, this work aims to give these people a voice and perceive them as individuals with their own history and opinion.
The refugee political activism will be examined in the two cities Würzburg in Germany and Irbid in Jordan. The aim is not to compare but rather to find out the opportunities, challenges and motivations of refugee political activism in widely varying contexts. The analysis of those aspects is important for the role of social workers, which they can or should play in integrating refugees into society and the political system.
The political discourse surrounding the "refugee question" is dominated by the negative sentiments in Germany and in Jordan. Through media refugees are often portrayed as victims, criminals or outsiders that are incapable of expression and void of agency.
This work provides a different perspective, examining the refugee situation in Würzburg and Irbid. Based on empirical findings gained from qualitative interviews, visible and invisible forms of protest actions, employed by the refugees, are conceptualized and presented. The situation is complicated by structural challenges and the need to weigh possible gains and losses of visible opposition to the state. The work concludes with a proposition for a differentiated approach to the "refugee problem", with emphasis on creativity, discussion and potential for human interactions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Context
2.1 Germany
2.2 Jordan
3. Definitions
3.1 Universal category “Refugee”
3.1.1 Legal Definition
3.1.2 Critique
3.1.3 Working Definition
3.2 Activism and Activists
3.3 What is “Political”?
4. Theoretical Framework
4.1 Acts of Citizenship
4.2 Visible and Invisible Activism
4.3 Contentious Politics
4.4 Space of Encounter
4.5 Personhood
5. Research Design
5.1 Research Question
5.2 Focus on two cities: Würzburg and Irbid
5.3 Methodology
5.2.1 Qualitative Interviews
5.2.2 Participants and Interview Setting
5.2.3 Transcribing and Data Analysis
5.3 Challenges of the Research
6. Categories of activism in Würzburg
6.1 Grounds and Aims for Protests
6.2 Protest: Strive for Visibility and Change
6.3 Reaction to the Protest
6.4 Changes: Success of Political Activism?
6.5 Vision for the Future
7. Categories of activism in Irbid
7.1 Refugees in the Society
7.2 Illegal Work is Legal
7.3 Challenge of Education
7.4 Non-participation or Strategy of Silence
7.5 Missing Future Perspective
8. Interpretation of Findings
8.1 Summary Statements of the Findings
8.1.1 Würzburg
8.1.2 Irbid
8.2 Connecting Findings in Würzburg and Irbid
8.3 Limitations and Strengths of the Study
8.4. Implications for Future Research
9. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Themes
The research examines the political activism of refugees in Würzburg and Irbid, aiming to understand the motivations, opportunities, and challenges faced by refugees when they choose to become active claim-makers. It seeks to challenge the prevailing media portrayal of refugees as passive victims by highlighting their agency and diverse strategies for political and social participation in different contexts.
- Forms of visible and invisible refugee activism
- The role of public space in political protest
- Challenges to participation for non-citizens
- Impact of refugee activism on host societies and policy
Extract from the Book
Visible and Invisible Activism
“Decades of their [refugee] struggle for rights and recognition as political subjects often remain invisible.” (Steinhipler, 2017, p. 77) Some of the main aims of immigrant activists are to make their situations and experiences visible and audible. As non-citizen migrants have only few options of self-representation, they often have no autonomous public voice (Marcinac & Tyler, 2014, p. 7). But it is not like immigrants and the topic of migration are invisible and not discussed in the public debate, rather the contrary is happening and all topics concerning immigration and immigrants are “hyper-visible” (ibid.).
To challenge the dominant representation of immigrants and the hegemonic order activists use visible (perceptible) forms of protest such as squatting a central square or civil disobedience against laws. These action are meant to generate public attention and usually take place in the public sphere. As J. Rancière states: “(…) there is a public sphere, which is a sphere of encounters and conflicts between the two opposed logics of police and politics, of the natural government of anyone and everyone.” (2006, p. 55).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Introduces the background of global displacement and the core research interest in refugee political activism as a form of agency.
2. Context: Provides an overview of immigration and integration policies in Germany and Jordan, highlighting the specific situation of Syrian refugees.
3. Definitions: Explores the term "refugee" through legal, critical, and working definitions, while also discussing the concept of "activism" and the "political."
4. Theoretical Framework: Outlines the concepts of Acts of Citizenship, visible vs. invisible activism, contentious politics, and the influence of space and personhood.
5. Research Design: Describes the qualitative research approach, the selection of the two cities, and the methods used for data collection and analysis.
6. Categories of activism in Würzburg: Analyzes the protest movements in Würzburg, focusing on the grounds for protests, forms of visibility, government reactions, and outcomes.
7. Categories of activism in Irbid: Explores the situation of refugees in Irbid, addressing their social status, informal labor strategies, educational challenges, and the strategy of silence.
8. Interpretation of Findings: Summarizes and compares findings from Würzburg and Irbid, discussing common features and differences in activism.
9. Conclusion: Summarizes the study's contribution to understanding refugee agency and the need for new ways of conceptualizing citizenship.
Keywords
Refugees, Political Activism, Citizenship, Migration, Acts of Citizenship, Würzburg, Irbid, Contentious Politics, Social Work, Visibility, Integration, Human Rights, Political Subjectivity, Protest, Non-citizens
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis focuses on the political activism of refugees in Würzburg, Germany, and Irbid, Jordan, analyzing their agency and how they participate in social discourse beyond traditional legal channels.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The work covers themes such as visible and invisible protest strategies, the struggle for legal recognition, the role of space in political mobilization, and the impact of host country policies on refugee agency.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The main objective is to move beyond portraying refugees as passive victims, instead recognizing them as active political subjects and claim-makers with unique personal histories.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study employs a qualitative research approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews and inductive content analysis to capture the subjective experiences and perspectives of refugee activists.
What does the main body cover?
The main body investigates the political landscape in Germany and Jordan, establishes a theoretical framework based on Critical Citizenship Studies, and analyzes empirical data from interviews conducted in the two selected cities.
Which keywords define this work?
The work is defined by concepts such as refugee activism, Acts of Citizenship, political subjectivity, and contentious politics within the context of Würzburg and Irbid.
How is the situation in Würzburg different from Irbid?
In Würzburg, refugee activism was characterized by visible, public protests seeking legal recognition, whereas in Irbid, activists were forced to adopt "invisible" strategies, such as informal work and creative art, due to fear of persecution and a more restricted political opportunity structure.
What is the role of art in this study?
The study highlights "art-activism," particularly in Irbid, where music and art serve as tools for resistance, identity preservation, and conveying political messages in an environment where open protest is not feasible.
- Quote paper
- Marija Vorona (Author), 2018, Political Activism of Refugees in Würzburg and Irbid. Opportunities, Motivations and Challenges, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/540676
