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University of Warwick institutional repository: http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick http://go.warwick.ac.uk/wrap/4535 This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. The contentious politics of childhood and migration: Grassroots mobilisations in support of ‘non-status’ children in England and France Clotilde Giner A thesis submitted to the University of Warwick for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2010 Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations School of Health and Social Studies University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................ ii List of Figures and Tables ......................................................................... vi Figures ...................................................................................................... vi Tables ....................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements ................................................................................... vii Declaration .................................................................................................. ix Abstract ........................................................................................................ x List of Acronyms ........................................................................................ xi Chapter One: Introduction .......................................................................... 1 Structure of the thesis ................................................................................ 7 Definition of terms .................................................................................... 10 Chapter Two: Theory and literature review .............................................. 12 2.1 Theoretical framework: synthesising social movement theories ...... 13 Social constructionism and social problems .......................................... 13 Theories of social movement: toward a synthetic perspective ............... 15 2.2 Child-centred campaigns and mobilisations .................................... 19 Images of the child ............................................................................... 19 Diverse and well-integrated child advocates ......................................... 25 Framing processes ............................................................................... 26 Close relation between child-centred mobilisations and policy-making . 29 2.3 Mobilisations of and on behalf of ‗non-status‘ migrants ................... 31 The migration and asylum context in France and Britain ....................... 31 Mobilisations and collective action in France and Britain: historical context .................................................................................................. 35 Structural weakness and marginality of support organisations .............. 38 Movements of or on behalf of migrants? Tensions and ambiguities among activists ..................................................................................... 40 Framing activities and discourses: tensions between the humanitarian and the political dimensions .................................................................. 41 2.4 ‗Non-status‘ children in France and England: policy context and literature ................................................................................................... 46 Children and Families without Legal Status: Policy Context .................. 47 Literature on ‗non-status‘ children ......................................................... 56 Marginal consideration of children and childhood in the literature on migrant mobilisations and strategies ..................................................... 65 Conclusions and research questions ........................................................ 67 ii Chapter Three: Research Design, Methods and Ethics .......................... 69 3.1 Research design and choice of methodology .................................. 70 A comparative research design ............................................................ 70 A qualitative research strategy and justification for methodology .......... 73 3.2 Collecting the data .......................................................................... 74 Political claims-making analysis ............................................................ 75 Semi-structured interviews.................................................................... 77 Selection of respondents ...................................................................... 79 The Interview process ........................................................................... 85 Transcription, analysis and interpretation of data .................................. 88 3.3 Ethical issues and reflexivity ........................................................... 91 Conclusions ............................................................................................. 95 Chapter Four: Mapping the field of contention ....................................... 96 4.1 Political issue-fields in France and England ....................................... 97 Localisation of Claims in Time and Space ............................................ 97 Involvement and Stance of Claims-Makers ......................................... 101 Action Repertoires, Addressees and Prompts for Mobilisation ............ 106 4.2 Qualitative analysis of claims ........................................................ 110 Child-Centred Claims-Making Activities .............................................. 112 Victimisation of Blameless Children .................................................... 113 Schools as Sanctuaries ...................................................................... 116 Integration .......................................................................................... 119 Local Community (England) Versus Common Humanity (France) ...... 121 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 123 Chapter Five: Structure and dynamics of mobilisations: Actors’ recruitment pathways .............................................................................. 126 5.1 Micromobilisation contexts and recruitment into local campaigning .. 127 The school as a central micromobilisation context .............................. 127 Affective campaigners: actors with personal ties to the child or young person ................................................................................................ 130 Political campaigners .......................................................................... 140 Involvement of ‗non-status‘ families and young people in campaigning ........................................................................................................... 143 5.2 Linking up to influential local players: the media, politicians, solicitors and church leaders ................................................................................. 146 Relationships with newspapers and journalists ................................... 146 Role of local politicians in campaigning activities ................................ 150 Role of solicitors ................................................................................. 155 The Church as a micromobilisation context in England ....................... 156 5.3 Mobilising structures at meso- and macro-level in France and England .................................................................................................. 159 The RESF as a mobilising structure in France: The key role of mesomobilisation actors and online networking .................................. 160 Relative isolation of individual campaigning groups in England .......... 170 Conclusions ........................................................................................... 179 Chapter Six: Participants’ individual reasons for involvement ............ 182 iii 6.1 Moral shocks and ensuing feelings of personal responsibility ....... 183 Moral shocks ...................................................................................... 184 Feelings of personal responsibility and ‗sense of self‘ ......................... 186 6.2 A fight for widely shared values and principles .............................. 189 6.3 Protecting children ........................................................................ 193 The Child as vulnerable and in need of protection: a powerful mobilising factor .................................................................................................. 193 A heightened concern for child welfare in England ............................. 196 Differentiation between children and adults vs. extension of concerns to adults .................................................................................................. 198 6.4 Education-related reasons ............................................................ 202 Mobilising against a perceived attack on education ............................ 203 A form of moral and citizenship education .......................................... 206 6.5 Direct responses to the national political context