Browsing by Author "Höök, Heidi"

This study explores the life and future prospects of refugees who live in urban areas in developing countries. The study focuses on urban refugees in Kampala, the capital of Uganda which has over 62,000 refugees from several neighbouring countries with fluctuating conflict situations. More than half of the world’s refugees reside in cities today, and the number is expected to increase. However, international assistance and attention focuses still mainly on refugee camps and settlements. Approximately 86 per cent of the world’s refugees reside in developing countries where resources to ensure the rights of refugees are scarce. They are facing numerous challenges related to rapid urbanisation, and their governments are reluctant to allow refugees to settle in urban areas. Urban refugees struggle for survival in precarious living conditions amongst other urban poor. Refugees live in the socio-economic margins mainly on their own. This study participates in the discussion and the search for solutions for urban refugees in protracted refugee situations. The purpose of this thesis is to increase understanding of how urban refugees perceive their lives and future opportunities in the diverse and dynamic context of Kampala. The central concepts of this interdisciplinary study mainly draw upon social psychology. The ways in which refugees perceive their lives among other social groups in Kampala is analysed through social categorisation. The study explores refugees’ perceptions of stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination as they are manifested in social interaction with locals and authorities. These perceptions are then analysed within the wider frame of integration and marginalisation. The primary data that was collected during a six-week fieldwork period in Kampala in spring 2013 consist of 21 thematic interviews, observation, informal discussions and a field diary. The data was analysed by conducting qualitative content analysis. The interviewed refugees were of different nationalities, ages, genders and backgrounds. The findings reveal that urban refugees varyingly face prejudices and discrimination in their daily interaction with Ugandans as well as within institutional contexts such as schools, health care centres and the police. The study demonstrates that real and perceived discrimination as well as anticipation of it have real implications on refugees’ lives. They are particularly vulnerable to discriminatory practices as they have little means to overcome grievances caused by discrimination. The analysis shows that refugees perceive to be regarded as strangers who are not accepted to be part of Ugandan society. They are left to survive on their own, excluded from their rights to justice and equality. Particularly the most marginalised refugees have little possibilities to improve their situation. The analysis also reveals frictions, hostilities and discrimination within the urban refugee population. One of the central conclusions of the study is the need to acknowledge the diversity of urban refugees in all approaches to them. Owing to perceptions that refugees are not accepted and disrespected social category in Kampala, refugees feel that they are deprived of their rights and opportunities to improve their lives in Kampala. Kampala represents a place where the life of refugees is characterised by stagnation, difficulties and unfreedoms that restrict them from changing the course of the lives. The analysis shows that refugees perceive that in Europe and North America refugees are accepted as members of society and hence able to build a better future for them and their children. The study concludes that urban refugees have little incentive to integrate into local society if they perceive that refugees are trapped in the social, political and economic margins. In the light of the continuing trends of urbanisation and growing number of urban refugees, the study underlines the need to take urban refugees into consideration in international, national and local policies and practices to ensure that refugees can enjoy equal rights and that the growth of cities is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.