The country of origin as a preparation stage

Purpose Using the holistic approach to migrant exclusion, the purpose of this paper is to examine the refugee crisis as a preparation stage for future exclusion in the host countries. In previous migration analyses, the preparation stage involved only the country of origin, where people were becoming acclimatized to casual and low-status work and an ethos of survival. In the refugee crisis, this important stage spans across three spaces: the country of origin, Turkey as an intermediate stage and the hotspots of Greece. Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative research that was based on 22 semi-structured interviews with refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan who live in the hotspot of Moria which is situated in Lesvos, Greece. Findings The research shows that in the first two countries of the preparation stage, refugees have become accustomed to casual and low-status jobs, which results in the loss of their labor identity and the development of instrumental work orientations. Similarly, the living conditions at the hotspots are so problematic that refugees are becoming desperate to escape this environment. These can have serious consequences for integration in the host countries, as refugees become pacified and at the same time strongly inclined to enter casual and low-status employment. Both developments can drastically undermine the refugees’ relation to the societies of the host countries. Originality/value The paper suggests that, given the preparation stage in these three settings, migration policy in the host countries should focus on recognizing long marginalization processes, immediately decongesting the hotspots and pay particular emphasis on the acknowledgment or creation of skills that can distance refugees from casual and low-status work.

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Preparation / Allocation / Habituation: The Holistic Approach to Migrant Exclusion

Xypolytas¹

2018

SCAD

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ΠΕΡIΛΗΨΗΤο άρθρο παρουσιάζει µε βάση την πρόσφατη εγχώρια ερευνητική δραστηριότητα µια θεωρη-τική προσέγγιση του αποκλεισµού των µετανα-στών δίνοντας ιδιαίτερη βαρύτητα στην εµπειρία και οργάνωση της εργασίας. Η ολιστική διάσταση της προσέγγισης έγκειται στην αναγνώριση τριών κεντρικών σταδίων στη διαδικασία αποκλεισµού που αφορούν: α) την προετοιµασία των µελλο-ντικών µεταναστών στις χώρες προέλευσης µέσα από την ένταξή τους στην άτυπη και χαµηλού κύρους εργασία, β) την τοποθέτηση του µετανα-στευτικού εργατικού δυναµικού σε επαγγέλµατα χαµηλού κύρους στις χώρες υποδοχής και γ) την εσωτερίκευση των χαρακτηριστικών και απαιτή-σεων της εργασίας των µεταναστών που οδηγεί στην αναπαραγωγή της κοινωνικής τους θέσης. ΛΕΞΕΙΣ-ΚΛΕΙ∆ΙΑ:Μετανάστευση, Αποκλεισµός, Ολιστική Προσέγγιση, Εργασία. ABSTRACTThe article establishes a theoretical approach to migrant exclusion based on recent research and focuses on the importance of the experience and organization of work. The holistic approach recognizes three important stages in the process of exclusion: i) the preparation of future migrants in the country of origin through the integration and cultural acclimatization to casual and low-status work, ii) the allocation of migrant workers in low-status jobs in the host countries and iii) the habituation of migrant workers to the characteristics and demands of their work which leads to the reproduction of their social position.

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The country of origin as a preparation stage

Cited by 3 publications

References 33 publications

Labour Market Security and Migration-related Decisions: Theoretical Background

Labour Market Security and Migration-related Decisions: Theoretical Background

The refugee crisis as a preparation stage for future exclusion

Preparation / Allocation / Habituation: The Holistic Approach to Migrant Exclusion

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