Title: The impact of the refugee management crisis on the role of humanitarian NGOs in Greece

Authors: Nikos Kourachanis

Addresses: Department of Social Policy, School of Political Sciences, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens, 17671, Greece

Abstract: This paper examines the impact of the refugee management crisis on the role of NGOs in Greece. The expansion of a deterrent migration policy after the EU-Turkey deal was complemented by an increased delegation of humanitarian actions to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). It is argued that the role of NGOs has become oriented to the same direction as the neoliberal welfare state and the EU's deterrent migration policy. Through field research with NGOs in Greece, the focus on fragmented and short-term emergency services, the rise in political instrumentalisation, and the tendency towards professionalisation and flexibilisation of the working conditions of their staff are explored.

Keywords: EU-Turkey deal; neoliberal welfare state; political instrumentalisation; emergency services; professionalisation of humanitarian sector.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2024.143322

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2024 Vol.19 No.1, pp.51 - 67

Received: 10 Apr 2024
Accepted: 15 Aug 2024
Published online: 13 Dec 2024 *

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