Somali Voices in Glasgow City: Who Speaks? Who Listens? an Ethnography
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Somali Voices in Glasgow City: Who Speaks? Who Listens? An Ethnography Emma Hill BA (Hons), MA Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Social Sciences, Heriot-Watt University August 2017 The copyright in this thesis is owned by the author. Any quotation from the thesis or use of any of the information contained in it must acknowledge this thesis as the source of the quotation or information Abstract Somali people have lived continuously in Glasgow since the early 2000s. Having faced the challenging circumstances of Dispersal, subsequent social inequalities, and a fast- changing political climate, the population is now part of Scotland's multicultural society. However, despite this success, many Somali people do not feel that the population 'has voice' in Glasgow. As seventeen-year-old Duniya comments, 'it's like we're hidden down, under the table, we are seen, but nobody knows what we're about'. Based on two years' of ethnographic fieldwork with Somali groups and individuals in Glasgow, this thesis considers the extent to which Somali people (do not) 'have voice' in Glasgow. It finds that Somali people's communicative experiences are strongly grounded in practices and infrastructures of community, and often a combined result of 'internal' and 'external' approaches to the concept. First, considering the contribution of Somali cultures of 'voice' to Somali people's experiences in the city, I argue that, due to the particular way in which a Somali community has developed in Glasgow, people's vocal experiences have been characterised by a complex combination of cohesion and fragmentation. Second, considering the impact of 'external' approaches to 'voice' in Scotland upon Somali experiences, I identify three areas - 'community development' infrastructure, the news-media and constructions of public spaces - which place limitations on Somali people's belonging, citizenship and 'voice' in Scotland. Moreover, I suggest, the impact of these 'external' approaches to 'voice' on 'internal' vocal practices serve only to compound existing communicative inequalities. In the context of the current political climate, in which concern for people's citizenship, belonging and voices is particularly heightened, I echo Somali people's calls for increased dialogue between communities to consider the communicative inequalities that have so far been unaddressed. For the Somali individuals and groups in Glasgow with whom I worked. ش كرا ,Thank you, mahadsanid Acknowledgements My work on this thesis was supported by Heriot-Watt University’s James Watt scholarship, for which I am grateful. This thesis would not have been possible without the input, participation, advice and guidance of the Somali individuals and groups whose voices inform this work. The hospitality offered to me at every stage of this work has left me humbled and enormously grateful. Though I must preserve their anonymity, I remain especially grateful to the three Somali organisations with whom I worked. Whilst many Somali individuals also gave valuable contributions to the work, particular and heartfelt thanks go to M for providing an ear to listen and to translate, for continued interest and critique, and for my addiction to lemon tart. Thanks must also go to F, for taking me under her wing, A, for her support at the beginning at this research, and A for her humour at the end of it. Throughout the research, I have also been helped by a number of external organisations. My thanks also go to: the Scottish Refugee Council, Unity, Saheliya, GRAMNet and Global Languages. In 2015, I was given the opportunity to intern with the Scottish Government, which has given this research valuable perspective and context. I have had the very good fortune to complete this thesis under the excellent supervision of Professor Máiréad Nic Craith and Dr Katerina Strani. I cannot thank them enough for their time, feedback, integrity and encouragement over the last four years. I have found Máiréad’s judgment and mentorship to be invaluable throughout this process, and Katerina’s insight, support and humour have kept me going and motivated. I must also thank both supervisors for the opportunities they have afforded me outside the thesis: the additional research and writing experience I have gained has been integral to my development as a researcher, has shaped this PhD and I hope will lead to more work together in the future. I would also like to thank Professor Ullrich Kockel and the Intercultural Research Centre in the School of Social Sciences for providing a space in which my work felt at home, supported and challenged. This research was also aided by support from the SGSAH and DAAD, both of which provided funding that enabled me to develop my methods and research practice. My work has also been hugely assisted by membership of the Transformations Doctoral Network, based at Ludwig Maximillian Universität, which has enabled me to connect with other ethnographers across Europe. Over the last four years, I have been supported by family and friends, near and far. My thanks go to Cristina and Vitalija, and also to Keith, who gave me the push I needed to apply for this PhD. My love and thanks to Blodwen – my inspiration and fairy godmother – to Julia – my foil – and to my brilliant mum and dad, who instilled in me a concern for social justice, who taught me to work hard and be better, and who have always been there despite the distance. And finally, to Martyn: proof-reader, premise- interrogator, cake-bringer, cat-wrangler, whose quiet but constant support speaks volumes and means more: my gratitude and always, my love. ACADEMIC REGISTRY Research Thesis Submission Name: Emma Hill School: School of Social Sciences Version: (i.e. First, Final Degree Sought: PhD Resubmission, Final) Declaration In accordance with the appropriate regulations I hereby submit my thesis and I declare that: 1) the thesis embodies the results of my own work and has been composed by myself 2) where appropriate, I have made acknowledgement of the work of others and have made reference to work carried out in collaboration with other persons 3) the thesis is the correct version of the thesis for submission and is the same version as any electronic versions submitted*. 4) my thesis for the award referred to, deposited in the Heriot-Watt University Library, should be made available for loan or photocopying and be available via the Institutional Repository, subject to such conditions as the Librarian may require 5) I understand that as a student of the University I am required to abide by the Regulations of the University and to conform to its discipline. 6) I confirm that the thesis has been verified against plagiarism via an approved plagiarism detection application e.g. Turnitin. * Please note that it is the responsibility of the candidate to ensure that the correct version of the thesis is submitted. Signature of Date: Candidate: Submission Submitted By (name in capitals): Signature of Individual Submitting: Date Submitted: For Completion in the Student Service Centre (SSC) Received in the SSC by (name in capitals): Method of Submission (Handed in to SSC; posted through internal/external mail): E-thesis Submitted (mandatory for final theses) Signature: Date: Please note this form should be bound into the submitted thesis. Academic Registry/Version (1) August 2016 Table of Contents Part 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Seen but not heard? Somali voices and Glasgow City .................................................. 4 1.1.1 Introducing the research .............................................................................................................. 7 1.1.2 Somali communities: in Somalia, in the UK and in Scotland ....................................... 10 1.2.3 Gaps and questions ...................................................................................................................... 24 1.2.4 Shaping and directing the research ....................................................................................... 26 1.2.5 Thesis structure ............................................................................................................................. 29 Part 2: Researching 'voice' ............................................................................................................. 32 2.1 Theorising ‘Voice’ ................................................................................................................... 33 2.1.1 A genealogy of voice and meaning ......................................................................................... 33 2.1.2 The social life of the voice ......................................................................................................... 35 2.1.3 Organising the voice: community and communication ................................................ 37 2.1.4 Commun(e)icative belonging and exclusion ..................................................................... 39 2.1.5 ‘Having voice’, community and communication .............................................................. 42 2.2 Decolonising research .......................................................................................................... 45 2.2.1 Decolonising research and Cadaan Studies ........................................................................ 45 2.2.2 Following the theoretical