On the Move Migrations Seminar - Projecting the Cause over the Effect: Migration Flows in the 2010s...

PROJECTING THE CAUSE OVER THE EFFECT:

MIGRATION FLOWS IN THE 2010s &

THE REVERSAL OF GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY

On the Move

Global migrations, challenges & responses

Oslo, Norway - October 26th 2016International Social Science Council

Oslo & Akershus University College of Applied Sciences

Irene SotiropoulouCentre for Agroecology, Water & Resilience

irene.sotiropoulou@coventry.ac.uk

Forced migration

War & Internal conflicts

Adverse conditions

economic political cultural

Discourse on migration

A. Who

Controlled by - governments

- mass media

- intergovernmental organisations

- academics & experts

What about migrants & refugees themselves?

Disruptive approaches: marginalised/silenced

Discourse on migration

B. About whom & what

Mass movement of populations

as a problem of

- refugees & migrants themselves

- the host countries

Phenomenon without active agents?

Discourse on migration

C. About why

ERASEDStructural causes

Specific policies

Entities: states

inter-/trans/supra-national organisations

corporations

Discourse on migration

D. Cover-upsI. Fear of racism rising in Europe

Covers the colonial

racistmale-dominated legacy

class-based

of European identity & civilisation

Discourse on migration

D. Cover-ups

II. Target only racist & xenophobic

practices of host populations

Covers the existing/implemented

official & unofficial

Policies of European countries & the EU

Hungary, July 2015

Photo: Budapestbeacon.com 3.7.2015

Amygdaleza, Greece – September 2016

Photo: Sofia Kouvelaki, The Guardian 10.9.2016

Calais, France – October 2016

Photo at dw.com 23.10.2016

Lesvos, Greece - February 2016

Photo: Getty images, 17.2.2016 – The Independent, 18.4.2016

Discourse on migration

D. Cover-ups

III. Under such conditions: celebrating

migration as root of enrichment & cultural

exchange

Utilitarian/capitalist perception of human beings

Decent living linked to one’s usefulness to the more

powerful than her/him

Discourse on migration

D. Cover-ups

IV. Under such conditions:

celebrating grassroots solidarity

Dismisses responsibilities of European states

to

Refugees – Migrants – Locals

Discourse on migration

D. Cover-ups

V. Silence about International Law

& Human Rights

Normalises breach of local/national

& international laws

Avoids discussion of

state & inter/supra-national responsibilities

Discourse on migration

Latest versions: Arose while

migrations flows were too large to

ignore

Cannot change realities

nor transfer responsibilities

to the victims

Questions, comments, critique?

Thank you!