Camouflaging borders: relocation, neglect and disciplines of emplacement in Portugal Online publication date: Fri, 13-Mar-2020
by Francesco Vacchiano
International Journal of Migration and Border Studies (IJMBS), Vol. 5, No. 4, 2019
Abstract: This article examines the asylum seekers' relocation scheme laid down in the framework of the European Agenda on Migration, and its implementation in Portugal – a country that has strongly endorsed the initiative since its inception. Portugal's attitude is certainly commendable when compared to the xenophobic reactions that have occurred in other EU countries. However, the self-promoting narrative of generosity and solidarity reiterated by Portuguese institutions is at odds with the voices of beneficiaries, who recurrently express frustration and criticism. Engaging with their perspective, I show that relocation, beyond the humanitarian rhetoric with which it has been presented in Portugal and elsewhere, is consistent with a broader project of border-making. Drawing inspiration from the scholarship on migration containment, I propose to consider 'emplacement' as a further strategy for producing specific forms of life and subjectivity associated to subaltern citizenship.
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Migration and Border Studies (IJMBS):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:
Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.
If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com