New Migrant Space in Urban Europe: Suspended Citizenship and the Challenge of Integration

Dr Simon Parker
Tuesday 26th February, 4 pm, ARC/014

Seminar Synopsis

In 2015, more than one million forcibly displaced people crossed the Mediterranean by boat. Many succeeded in finding refuge in Germany and Sweden, but tens of thousands found themselves trapped in Greece and Italy, unable to reunite with their family members. Derelict and abandoned land, railway and bus stations, bridges, and disused buildings became home to a growing undocumented migrant population who could neither regularize themselves as lawful residents nor legally access work, education, health, housing, or social services. The notorious ex-"Jungle" camp in Calais, France, was but the most well-known example of abject migrant spaces across Europe that have been subject to frequent and often violent police suppression. In this lecture, Parker looks at how marginal urban spaces have been transformed by the presence of these "suspended lives," but also how local authorities and nongovernmental organizations have succeeded in making new arrivals welcome and integrated within the local community.

Simon Parker

Simon is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics, at the University of York and is Co-Director of the Centre for Urban Research (CURB).

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Directions and Parking:

Please see the University campus map for the location of ARC/014 which is in the Alcuin Research Resource Centre. The building is opposite the Alcuin Teaching Block (Seebohm Rowntree Building) reception. The room is on the ground floor at the far end from the main entrance, around the corner, behind the lift. The closet public car park is Campus North car park and payment is via the RingGo parking. For information on public transport to the University please see the Travel and Transport webpages.