Locating forced migrants' resources: residency status and the process of family reunification in Finland

This article investigates how forced migrants residing in Finland utilise different types of resources in their efforts to reunite with their families. The data includes 36 group and individual interviews (2018–2019) with 43 Iraqi, Afghan, Somali, and Ethiopian forced migrants holding residence permits in Finland, who were either seeking to reunite with their families, or had already brought their families to Finland, or had attempted but failed to achieve family reunification. The results show that a variety of resources are needed to navigate the bureaucracies involved in family reunification. Economic resources in one’s country of origin may be used to pay the high administrative and travel costs, as well as other fees required by government officials to obtain visas for family members. Cultural resources, such as education, are useful when one is trying to make sense of the complicated application process, or seeking work or educational opportunities in the new country. Different forms of social resources can be utilised to seek advice. However, the resources at the disposal of migrants are not the determining factor in attempts to successfully reunite with one’s family. Although they are important, the success of the reunification process depends more on one’s residency status and whether it allows family reunification without a high-income requirement

Studying Intimacies that <em>Matter</em> : Affective Assemblages in Research Interviews with Forced Migrants

AbstractThis article explores methodological challenges in studying intimacies through analysing affective assemblages in research interviews. The participants in this study are forced migrants trying to reunite with their transnational families. Building on scholarship where affect is considered precognitive, meaning that it happens prior to emotions, this article approaches affective knowledge through methodological exploration. The analysis explores two research encounters from a data set which include interviews with 55 forced migrants in Finland, some of which were done together with a research assistant working as a translator. In addition, data include the researcher’s notes on re-listening to six interviews. The research question is how affect influences research interview situations and what effects these affective assemblages have on all involved. Additionally, the interest is in what these assemblages reveal about empathy and difference. The results show that intimate relations may manifest through a shared, intense affective assemblage where the borders of the researcher and participant become blurred. Difficult experiences of losses and injustices in the realm of intimacies may also cause affective dissonance. In these research encounters, difference between the researcher(s) and the participant(s) is left unsolved. The unresolved difference may reveal power relations between the researcher and participant.Abstract This article explores methodological challenges in studying intimacies through analysing affective assemblages in research interviews. The participants in this study are forced migrants trying to reunite with their transnational families. Building on scholarship where affect is considered precognitive, meaning that it happens prior to emotions, this article approaches affective knowledge through methodological exploration. The analysis explores two research encounters from a data set which include interviews with 55 forced migrants in Finland, some of which were done together with a research assistant working as a translator. In addition, data include the researcher’s notes on re-listening to six interviews. The research question is how affect influences research interview situations and what effects these affective assemblages have on all involved. Additionally, the interest is in what these assemblages reveal about empathy and difference. The results show that intimate relations may manifest through a shared, intense affective assemblage where the borders of the researcher and participant become blurred. Difficult experiences of losses and injustices in the realm of intimacies may also cause affective dissonance. In these research encounters, difference between the researcher(s) and the participant(s) is left unsolved. The unresolved difference may reveal power relations between the researcher and participant

Everyday (in)security and transnational family relationships in the lives of young forced migrants

AbstractThis article examines the impact of family separation on the organization of everyday security among unaccompanied refugee minors living in Finland. By focusing on the concept of everyday (in)security, this article analyses the consequences of the recent political decisions on young refugees’ family connections. The data in this study includes interviews among 16 Afghani, Iraqi, Ethiopian and Somali refugees who have attained residency in Finland and who are attempting to bring family members to the country via family reunification. The data is analysed using categorization analysis. I found four main ways though which young refugees establish security in their often insecure lives. First, the youth constructed collective identities which connected their lives with their transnational families and gave a purpose in life. Second, they turned to religion and created ontological securities. Third, the youth wanted to live ‘ordinary’ lives. Fourth, they also engaged in enacting political citizenship.Abstract This article examines the impact of family separation on the organization of everyday security among unaccompanied refugee minors living in Finland. By focusing on the concept of everyday (in)security, this article analyses the consequences of the recent political decisions on young refugees’ family connections. The data in this study includes interviews among 16 Afghani, Iraqi, Ethiopian and Somali refugees who have attained residency in Finland and who are attempting to bring family members to the country via family reunification. The data is analysed using categorization analysis. I found four main ways though which young refugees establish security in their often insecure lives. First, the youth constructed collective identities which connected their lives with their transnational families and gave a purpose in life. Second, they turned to religion and created ontological securities. Third, the youth wanted to live ‘ordinary’ lives. Fourth, they also engaged in enacting political citizenship

Navigating affective (in)securities : forced migration and transnational family relationships

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Afganistanilaisten pakkomuuttajien arjen kansalaisuus ja toiminnan mahdollisuudet

Artikkelimme tarkastelee afgaaniyhteisön jäsenten kotoutumisen mahdollisuuksia pienellä paikka- kunnalla Suomessa. Etnografisessa tutkimuksessamme kysymme, millaisia mahdollisuuksia ja esteitä kotouttamistyö asettaa perheissä elävien afganistanilaistaustaisten naisten ja miesten arjen kansalaisuudelle. Sovellamme kansalaisuuden käsitteistöä sellaisten prosessien, käytäntöjen ja tekojen empiiriseen analyysiin, joissa valtiollisia politiikkoja sovelletaan ja sovitetaan yksilöiden elämään. Esitämme analyysissamme tarinat kahdesta perheestä siten, että niiden kautta avautuu laajempi näkymä afgaaniyhteisöön kuuluvien yksilöiden ja perheiden toimijuuteen. Tulostemme mukaan kotouttamistyön ja maahanmuuttopolitiikan yhteen kietoutuminen raamittaa tutkittavien kohtelua tavalla, jolla on sukupuolenmukaisia seurauksia. Perheiden naisia ei välttämättä nähdä yksilöinä, jotka tekevät omia ratkaisujaan. Kun mies on turvapaikanhakija, heidän isyyttään ja hoivavastuutaan ei tunnisteta. Analyysin mukaan arjen kansalaisuus ja kansalaisuus oikeudellisena asemana liittyvät vahvasti toisiinsa

Pakkomuutosta, kotouttamistyöstä ja etiikasta

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