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This thesis has been submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a postgraduate degree (e.g. PhD, MPhil, DClinPsychol) at the University of Edinburgh. Please note the following terms and conditions of use: This work is protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights, which are retained by the thesis author, unless otherwise stated. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the author. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the author. When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Citizenship and Displacement: Naturalisation of Burundian refugees in Tanzania (2010-2017) Amelia Kuch PhD International Development University of Edinburgh PhD Anthropology Aarhus University April 2019 1 2 To my mother, Aneta Sadowska-Wojak, and to her well-trained angels 3 4 Declaration I declare that this thesis has been composed solely by myself and that it has not been submitted, in whole or in part, for any other degree or professional qualification. Except where stated by reference and acknowledgement, the work is entirely my own. Signature Amelia Magdalena Kuch 5 6 Abstract Between 2010-2017, 150,000 of Burundian refugees, whose families fled to Tanzania in the 1970s, received citizenship in Tanzania. This thesis explores how the experience of naturalisation shaped Burundian refugees’ views of citizenship, and considers how this can help develop understanding of citizenship more broadly, especially in a displacement context. My research traces the implementation and aftermath of naturalisation in Ulyankulu settlement and the city of Dar es Salaam between 2014 and 2017, focusing on and foregrounding former refugees’ experiences and narratives of citizenship and displacement. The methods employed in this study were ethnographic in nature and included repeated visits to the research sites, living with the community members, learning Kiswahili, and conducting over 160 interviews. Unlike the existing studies of naturalisation which focus solely on the settlements, this thesis adopts a multi-sited approach, which incorporates insights from both rural and urban settings, drawing parallels and contrasting the various experiences and perspectives. The thesis builds on the existing literature on citizenship, displacement and their nexus (Arendt 1973; Malkki 1995; Kibreab 1999; Warner 1999; Kelly 2006; Long, 2013a; Bakewell 2011; Brun 2015; Grabska 2015; Hammar 2014, 2018), contributing new empirical and conceptual insights on the complexity of evolving citizenship for those who are long-term displacees. Drawing on former refugees’ experiences and narratives, the thesis puts forward a new concept of ‘probational citizenship’ which aims to capture the temporality, uncertainty, and ongoing struggles for recognition in displacement. Former refugees living with ‘probational citizenship’ experience a paradoxical interplay of both safety and uncertainty about their status, which dominates their lives and shapes their actions post-naturalisation. To shed light on these processes, the thesis brings together a combination of key aspects of citizenship in a context of displacement and settlement, not often addressed at the same time, namely political representation, land rights, mobility, and materiality of citizenship. 7 Lay Summary Between 2010-2017, 150,000 of Burundian refugees, whose families fled to Tanzania in the 1970s, received citizenship in Tanzania. This thesis explores how the experience of naturalisation shaped Burundian refugees’ views of citizenship and considers how this can help us to develop understanding of citizenship more broadly, especially in a displacement context. This study relied on ethnographic methods, including repeated visits to the research sites, living with the community members, learning Kiswahili, and conducting over 160 interviews. Unlike the existing studies of naturalisation of Burundian refugees in Tanzania which focus solely on the settlements, this thesis adopts a multi-sited approach, which incorporates insights from both rural and urban settings. To shed light on the processes of naturalisation, the thesis brings together a combination of key aspects of citizenship in a context of displacement and settlement, not often addressed at the same time, namely: political representation, land rights, mobility, and materiality of citizenship. Drawing on former refugees’ experiences and narratives, the thesis puts forward a new concept of ‘probational citizenship’ which aims to capture the temporality, uncertainty, and ongoing struggles for recognition in displacement. Although this study focuses on the specific case of naturalisation of Burundian refugees in Tanzania, I advance an argument that the notion of ‘probational citizenship’ and the protracted uncertainty regarding one’s legal status is becoming increasingly common in the experiences of naturalised citizens and their families, as well as other first and second-generation migrants in the Global North. 8 Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the generosity of the former Burundian refugees who over the years shared their time, insights and wisdom with me. Thank you for trusting me with your stories, concerns, and fears. This thesis has been driven, motivated and shaped by what I have learnt from you and my biggest hope is that it resonates with you. I would like to extend special thanks to Fr Katoba from the Catholic Parish in Ulyankulu, Kaswa village, who invited me into his home and supported my work, research, and well-being throughout my time in Ulyankulu. I would also like to thank Issaya Mtasha for outstanding research assistance. The professional support and emotional encouragement received from you and your family over the years cannot be emphasised enough. I am looking forward to continuing learning from each other in the future. In Dar es Salaam, I have been supported by incredible and knowledgeable staff from Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service (TCRS), International Rescue Committee (IRC) as well the Tanzanian Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA). I will always remember your kindness and patience towards my never-ending list of questions. The analysis presented in this thesis would not have materialised without the steady support of my terrific supervisors – Hazel Gray, Andrew Bowman, Lotte Meinert. I am also grateful to Katy Long for her guidance and inspiration from across the Atlantic. I received incredible support from the broader academic community and would especially like to thank James Milner, Amanda Hammar and Andrea Purdeková. Thank you all for the many hours of conversations, and for your constant encouragement and confidence in my work. Here, I would also like to thank the people 9 who facilitate the Excellence in European Doctoral Training (ExEDE) programme. ExEDE has funded my entire PhD education and created an incredible opportunity for me to pursue a joint degree between the University of Edinburgh and Aarhus University. Loneliness and isolation are the biggest challenges while writing a PhD and I would have never managed to overcome them without my friends and family. Spread across countries, continents and languages, you kept me sane. Tobey, Ognjenka, Ania, Madeleine, Gosia, Hania, Krizia - thank you all for the messages, calls, dinners, weekend adventures, laughter and hugs. And most of all, to Sebastian, my rock and my joy, thank you for being there through the hardest part of writing-up, always ready for ramen and dance. Finally, thank you to the best family in the world that flew all the way to Tanzania to spend Christmas with me and go on a wild road trip in a rusty rental car. Your love and absolute confidence in my abilities is the backbone of everything I do. I dedicate this thesis to my mother, Aneta Sadowska-Wojak, whose curiosity, fearlessness, and passion for justice are my constant inspiration. 10 Contents Declaration ........................................................................................................... 5 Abstract ................................................................................................................ 7 Lay Summary ....................................................................................................... 8 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... 9 Contents ............................................................................................................. 11 Table of Figures ................................................................................................. 14 Acronyms ........................................................................................................... 15 Glossary ............................................................................................................. 16 1. Introduction ................................................................................................ 17 1.1. Rethinking citizenship in displacement ......................................................... 20 1.2. Thesis’ structure ............................................................................................ 24 2. Background and context ................................................................................