University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Geography Geography 2013 The Everyday Spaces of Humanitarian Migrants in Denmark Malene H. Jacobsen University of Kentucky, [email protected] Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Jacobsen, Malene H., "The Everyday Spaces of Humanitarian Migrants in Denmark" (2013). Theses and Dissertations--Geography. 7. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/geography_etds/7 This Master's Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Geography at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Geography by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained and attached hereto needed written permission statements(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine). I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless a preapproved embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s dissertation including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Malene H. Jacobsen, Student Dr. Patricia Ehrkamp, Major Professor Dr. Matthew Zook, Director of Graduate Studies THE EVERYDAY SPACES OF HUMANITARIAN MIGRANTS IN DENMARK ______________________________________________ THESIS ______________________________________________ A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Malene Herschend Jacobsen Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Patricia Ehrkamp Lexington, Kentucky 2013 Copyright © Malene H. Jacobsen 2013 ABSTRACT OF THESIS THE EVERYDAY SPACES OF HUMANITARIAN MIGRANTS IN DENMARK Through an analysis of the Danish Immigration Law and asylum system, this research illustrates how the Danish state through state practices and policies permeates and produces the everyday space of humanitarian migrants. Furthermore, it examines how humanitarian migrants experience their everyday life in the Danish asylum system. An examination of state practices in conjunction with humanitarian migrants’ narratives of space and everyday practices, offers an opportunity to explore what kind of politics and political subjectivities that can emerge in the space of humanitarian migrants. This research contribute to our understanding of first, how the securitization of migration has direct impact on the everyday life of humanitarian migrants, second, second, how the state through practices and space governs and de-politicizes humanitarian migrants, and third, humanitarian migrants are able to act politically. Furthermore, this research problematizes the categorization of humanitarian migrants as “asylum seeker” in order to illustrate how the group of humanitarian migrants is a very diverse group of people from different places with various skills and education-, social-, and economic backgrounds. Even though “asylum seekers” are often portrayed as a homogenous group of vulnerable people we cannot assume that these people understand themselves as vulnerable docile “asylum seekers”. KEYWORDS: asylum, everyday practices, the state, neoliberalism, political subjectivities Malene Herschend Jacobsen 25 April 2013 THE EVERYDAY SPACES OF HUMANITARIAN MIGRANTS IN DENMARK By: Malene Herschend Jacobsen Dr. Patricia Ehrkamp Chair of Committee Dr. Matthew Zook Director of Graduate Studies 25 April 2013 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to Dr. Patricia Ehrkamp for being my Thesis Chair and Dr. Anna Secor and Sue Roberts for serving on my committee. Thanks to the Trampoline House for being a very welcoming and open place. I spent most of my summer in the Trampoline House, listening to people’s stories and daily issues, cooking food for Friday dinners, participating in the Tuesday democratic house meetings, drinking tea, picking up bread and food donated from the local stores, and helping where the house and the people needed a hand. Thanks to all the people who were willing to share their stories with me and participate in interviews. A special thanks to my interpreter, without her I could not have done this work. Finally, I am thankful to my family and friends, and especially Lance for his encouragement and support. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................1 Migration & Securitization ..............................................................................................2 The Danish Asylum System.............................................................................................3 The Asylum Center ..........................................................................................................6 Research Questions ........................................................................................................10 Overview of Thesis ........................................................................................................10 CHAPTER II: CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ..............................................................12 Everyday Space and Practices .......................................................................................13 Geopolitics of Migration & Feminist Political Geography ............................................17 The Political Subject ......................................................................................................24 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................31 Archival Research ..........................................................................................................31 Participant Observation ..................................................................................................32 Qualitative Semi-Structured Interviews and Mental Mapping ......................................34 Trust & Place Matters ....................................................................................................39 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER IV: THE DANISH IMMIGRATION LAW AND ASYLUM SYSTEM .......45 The Danish Immigration Law 1998-2011..........................................................................45 “The World’s Greatest Immigration Law” ....................................................................45 The Amendments of the 1990s – Optimization, Efficiency, and Assimilation .............49 The amendments of the 2000s – Fewer Immigrants and “Quid Pro Quo” ....................56 Selecting the Right Migrants .........................................................................................60 The Danish Asylum System (2011-2012)..........................................................................62 The Process of Seeking Asylum ....................................................................................62 iv The Asylum Center ........................................................................................................65 The Contract: Education, Aktivering, Duties, and Money .............................................73 Healthcare ......................................................................................................................77 Danish Red Cross & Immigration Service .....................................................................78 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................78 CHAPTER V: EVERYDAY SPACES AND PRACTICES .............................................80 A Room, a Bed, and a Table ..........................................................................................80 A “Normal” Day ............................................................................................................80 Sharing Space with a Stranger .......................................................................................86