[Music]
[Music] you
so in 2013 I was sitting on the steps of
so in 2013 I was sitting on the steps of an apartment block in Kampala which is
an apartment block in Kampala which is
an apartment block in Kampala which is the busy capital city of Uganda and I
the busy capital city of Uganda and I
the busy capital city of Uganda and I was there with Sara who had come to the
was there with Sara who had come to the
was there with Sara who had come to the city a year previously as a refugee so a
city a year previously as a refugee so a
city a year previously as a refugee so a refugee is a person who has been forced
refugee is a person who has been forced
refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their country due to violence
to flee their country due to violence
to flee their country due to violence war and persecution but a refugee is not
war and persecution but a refugee is not
war and persecution but a refugee is not a citizen so when they go to seek asylum
a citizen so when they go to seek asylum
a citizen so when they go to seek asylum in another country the only rights that
in another country the only rights that
in another country the only rights that they have access to are those that are
they have access to are those that are
they have access to are those that are provided by the country in which they’ve
provided by the country in which they’ve
provided by the country in which they’ve sought asylum and this can lead to
sought asylum and this can lead to
sought asylum and this can lead to insecurity so Sara and her family had
insecurity so Sara and her family had
insecurity so Sara and her family had come to Uganda after fleeing war in the
come to Uganda after fleeing war in the
come to Uganda after fleeing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but
Democratic Republic of the Congo but
Democratic Republic of the Congo but even though Uganda had provided them
even though Uganda had provided them
even though Uganda had provided them with security and protection on this
with security and protection on this
with security and protection on this particular morning Sara told me we need
particular morning Sara told me we need
particular morning Sara told me we need a new life and as she said this sweat
a new life and as she said this sweat
a new life and as she said this sweat from her brow dripped into this bucket
from her brow dripped into this bucket
from her brow dripped into this bucket of freshly washed clothes in front of
of freshly washed clothes in front of
of freshly washed clothes in front of her so laundering was one of the many
her so laundering was one of the many
her so laundering was one of the many informal jobs that Sara did to try and
informal jobs that Sara did to try and
informal jobs that Sara did to try and boost the meager income that was made by
boost the meager income that was made by
boost the meager income that was made by her husband and to try and look after
her husband and to try and look after
her husband and to try and look after their three small children we need a new
their three small children we need a new
their three small children we need a new life Sara told me the life here is
life Sara told me the life here is
life Sara told me the life here is killing us so what does it mean that a
killing us so what does it mean that a
killing us so what does it mean that a country which is supposed to provide
country which is supposed to provide
country which is supposed to provide protection to refugees can actually lead
protection to refugees can actually lead
protection to refugees can actually lead them to claim that the life there is
them to claim that the life there is
them to claim that the life there is killing them clearly there’s a
killing them clearly there’s a
killing them clearly there’s a discrepancy between how humanitarian
discrepancy between how humanitarian
discrepancy between how humanitarian institutions imagine the protection of
institutions imagine the protection of
institutions imagine the protection of refugees and how refugees themselves
refugees and how refugees themselves
refugees and how refugees themselves experience it the United Nations
experience it the United Nations
experience it the United Nations estimates that there are currently 65
estimates that there are currently 65
estimates that there are currently 65 million people living in a state of
million people living in a state of
million people living in a state of displacement that’s three times the
displacement that’s three times the
displacement that’s three times the population of my home country Australia
population of my home country Australia
population of my home country Australia but despite these significant numbers
but despite these significant numbers
but despite these significant numbers refugees and X displacement continue to
refugees and X displacement continue to
refugees and X displacement continue to be treated as exceptional experiences
be treated as exceptional experiences
be treated as exceptional experiences but for Refugees that I got to know
but for Refugees that I got to know
but for Refugees that I got to know while doing anthropological fieldwork
while doing anthropological fieldwork
while doing anthropological fieldwork with it’s not such a cute
with it’s not such a cute
with it’s not such a cute vents of displacement that come to
vents of displacement that come to
vents of displacement that come to define their everyday lives rather it’s
define their everyday lives rather it’s
define their everyday lives rather it’s this sense of everyday precarity that is
this sense of everyday precarity that is
this sense of everyday precarity that is slowly killing them as Sara claims so
slowly killing them as Sara claims so
slowly killing them as Sara claims so precarity is a term that it’s used to
precarity is a term that it’s used to
precarity is a term that it’s used to describe a state of precarious existence
describe a state of precarious existence
describe a state of precarious existence in which everyday life is characterized
in which everyday life is characterized
in which everyday life is characterized by instability of work housing and
by instability of work housing and
by instability of work housing and family life but such precarity is not
family life but such precarity is not
family life but such precarity is not exclusive to the lives of refugees this
exclusive to the lives of refugees this
exclusive to the lives of refugees this kind of precarity is increasingly come
kind of precarity is increasingly come
kind of precarity is increasingly come to characterize people’s lives
to characterize people’s lives
to characterize people’s lives everywhere what this means is that
everywhere what this means is that
everywhere what this means is that displacement is not an exceptional
displacement is not an exceptional
displacement is not an exceptional experience so in order to make such a
experience so in order to make such a
experience so in order to make such a claim we need to understand the kind of
claim we need to understand the kind of
claim we need to understand the kind of lives that refugees lead so like Sara a
lives that refugees lead so like Sara a
lives that refugees lead so like Sara a vast majority an overwhelming majority
vast majority an overwhelming majority
vast majority an overwhelming majority of refugees live in a country of asylum
of refugees live in a country of asylum
of refugees live in a country of asylum so this is a country that has provided
so this is a country that has provided
so this is a country that has provided them with temporary protection but which
them with temporary protection but which
them with temporary protection but which does not allow them to permanently
does not allow them to permanently
does not allow them to permanently settle in those situations refugees may
settle in those situations refugees may
settle in those situations refugees may be unable to access employment rights
be unable to access employment rights
be unable to access employment rights education even the choice of where to
education even the choice of where to
education even the choice of where to live and this stifles social mobility
live and this stifles social mobility
live and this stifles social mobility but many refugees spend lengthy periods
but many refugees spend lengthy periods
but many refugees spend lengthy periods of time in those situations sometimes
of time in those situations sometimes
of time in those situations sometimes years even decades some simply do not
years even decades some simply do not
years even decades some simply do not have a home to return to at all so how
have a home to return to at all so how
have a home to return to at all so how to resolve such situations the
to resolve such situations the
to resolve such situations the contemporary approach or the
contemporary approach or the
contemporary approach or the conventional approach has been to place
conventional approach has been to place
conventional approach has been to place refugees into camps where they can be
refugees into camps where they can be
refugees into camps where they can be better provided with humanitarian aid
better provided with humanitarian aid
better provided with humanitarian aid but of course doing that inserts
but of course doing that inserts
but of course doing that inserts refugees into this hierarchical
refugees into this hierarchical
refugees into this hierarchical relationship of power with humanitarian
relationship of power with humanitarian
relationship of power with humanitarian institutions who they can come to depend
institutions who they can come to depend
institutions who they can come to depend upon and besides in camping someone
upon and besides in camping someone
upon and besides in camping someone completely restricts their freedom
completely restricts their freedom
completely restricts their freedom despite that with the number of refugees
despite that with the number of refugees
despite that with the number of refugees at a global high it’s simply
at a global high it’s simply
at a global high it’s simply unsustainable to try and put everyone
unsustainable to try and put everyone
unsustainable to try and put everyone into a camp no matter how hard
into a camp no matter how hard
into a camp no matter how hard governments might try and so the United
governments might try and so the United
governments might try and so the United Nations and governments everywhere are
Nations and governments everywhere are
Nations and governments everywhere are seeking new solutions to displacement
seeking new solutions to displacement
seeking new solutions to displacement increasingly these solutions are rights
increasingly these solutions are rights
increasingly these solutions are rights based
based
based and that means that they are involving
and that means that they are involving
and that means that they are involving dismantling humanitarian aid systems and
dismantling humanitarian aid systems and
dismantling humanitarian aid systems and instead providing refugees with rights
instead providing refugees with rights
instead providing refugees with rights to work under the premise that doing so
to work under the premise that doing so
to work under the premise that doing so will enable them to become self-reliant
will enable them to become self-reliant
will enable them to become self-reliant effectively self-reliance is the
effectively self-reliance is the
effectively self-reliance is the alternative to humanitarian aid but just
alternative to humanitarian aid but just
alternative to humanitarian aid but just because something is an alternative to a
because something is an alternative to a
because something is an alternative to a broken system does not mean that it is
broken system does not mean that it is
broken system does not mean that it is inherently benevolent in intention and
inherently benevolent in intention and
inherently benevolent in intention and affect these rights based solutions are
affect these rights based solutions are
affect these rights based solutions are similarly steeped in power relationships
similarly steeped in power relationships
similarly steeped in power relationships so the problem with rights based
so the problem with rights based
so the problem with rights based solutions is that they assume that
solutions is that they assume that
solutions is that they assume that displacement is a political legal
displacement is a political legal
displacement is a political legal condition of being unable to access the
condition of being unable to access the
condition of being unable to access the rights of citizens which implies that
rights of citizens which implies that
rights of citizens which implies that simply reinserting a refugee back into a
simply reinserting a refugee back into a
simply reinserting a refugee back into a situation where they can claim civic
situation where they can claim civic
situation where they can claim civic rights will simply resolve their
rights will simply resolve their
rights will simply resolve their displacement but this leads to a more
displacement but this leads to a more
displacement but this leads to a more fundamentally flawed assumption that
fundamentally flawed assumption that
fundamentally flawed assumption that citizenship and security are analogous
citizenship and security are analogous
citizenship and security are analogous so citizenship no longer confers and
so citizenship no longer confers and
so citizenship no longer confers and enforces inalienable rights if indeed it
enforces inalienable rights if indeed it
enforces inalienable rights if indeed it ever really did so from austerity
ever really did so from austerity
ever really did so from austerity measures in Europe to the dismantling of
measures in Europe to the dismantling of
measures in Europe to the dismantling of the welfare state pretty much everywhere
the welfare state pretty much everywhere
the welfare state pretty much everywhere we’re currently witnessing the erosion
we’re currently witnessing the erosion
we’re currently witnessing the erosion of what it means to claim and experience
of what it means to claim and experience
of what it means to claim and experience the benefits of citizenship the state is
the benefits of citizenship the state is
the benefits of citizenship the state is no longer a stable basis of security
no longer a stable basis of security
no longer a stable basis of security that responsibility is now untethered
that responsibility is now untethered
that responsibility is now untethered so if citizenship no longer gives
so if citizenship no longer gives
so if citizenship no longer gives security vanda’s providing refugees with
security vanda’s providing refugees with
security vanda’s providing refugees with civic rights actually resolve their
civic rights actually resolve their
civic rights actually resolve their displacement let us return to Uganda so
displacement let us return to Uganda so
displacement let us return to Uganda so that Uganda is considered by the UNHCR
that Uganda is considered by the UNHCR
that Uganda is considered by the UNHCR to be one of the most refugee friendly
to be one of the most refugee friendly
to be one of the most refugee friendly countries in the world so Uganda has
countries in the world so Uganda has
countries in the world so Uganda has long upheld a rights-based system of
long upheld a rights-based system of
long upheld a rights-based system of asylum so this means that refugees in
asylum so this means that refugees in
asylum so this means that refugees in Uganda are supposed to become
Uganda are supposed to become
Uganda are supposed to become self-reliant through either subsistence
self-reliant through either subsistence
self-reliant through either subsistence agriculture legal employment or becoming
agriculture legal employment or becoming
agriculture legal employment or becoming business entrepreneurs and this is
business entrepreneurs and this is
business entrepreneurs and this is supposed to be empowering for refugees
supposed to be empowering for refugees
supposed to be empowering for refugees but the experiences of
but the experiences of
but the experiences of people I got tonight tell a different
people I got tonight tell a different
people I got tonight tell a different story let us return to Sarah when I
story let us return to Sarah when I
story let us return to Sarah when I first met Sarah she was working about
first met Sarah she was working about
first met Sarah she was working about three different jobs sometimes up to 20
three different jobs sometimes up to 20
three different jobs sometimes up to 20 hours a day her husband at that time was
hours a day her husband at that time was
hours a day her husband at that time was out of work and that was because he was
out of work and that was because he was
out of work and that was because he was still recovering from injuries that he
still recovering from injuries that he
still recovering from injuries that he had sustained on a workplace where he’d
had sustained on a workplace where he’d
had sustained on a workplace where he’d been beaten up by people who were
been beaten up by people who were
been beaten up by people who were xenophobic so prior to that he’d been a
xenophobic so prior to that he’d been a
xenophobic so prior to that he’d been a casual laborer but he’d been routinely
casual laborer but he’d been routinely
casual laborer but he’d been routinely underpaid by his employers because he
underpaid by his employers because he
underpaid by his employers because he was a refugee and that’s illegal but
was a refugee and that’s illegal but
was a refugee and that’s illegal but sadly it’s very common in Uganda for
sadly it’s very common in Uganda for
sadly it’s very common in Uganda for Refugees so one day after work he had
Refugees so one day after work he had
Refugees so one day after work he had people on whose worksite had taken
people on whose worksite had taken
people on whose worksite had taken offense to him being there and they’d
offense to him being there and they’d
offense to him being there and they’d savagely beaten him up so he was unable
savagely beaten him up so he was unable
savagely beaten him up so he was unable to work for many months other refugees
to work for many months other refugees
to work for many months other refugees told me similarly precarious livelihood
told me similarly precarious livelihood
told me similarly precarious livelihood strategies some women told me that their
strategies some women told me that their
strategies some women told me that their entire livelihood depended on selling
entire livelihood depended on selling
entire livelihood depended on selling packets of tissue on the side of the
packets of tissue on the side of the
packets of tissue on the side of the road still others told me about engaging
road still others told me about engaging
road still others told me about engaging in survival sex that is having sex with
in survival sex that is having sex with
in survival sex that is having sex with people for food shelter or money as a
people for food shelter or money as a
people for food shelter or money as a way to survive
way to survive
way to survive not exactly stories of security so while
not exactly stories of security so while
not exactly stories of security so while some refugees in Kampala flourish many
some refugees in Kampala flourish many
some refugees in Kampala flourish many do not these refugees have become an
do not these refugees have become an
do not these refugees have become an exploitable workforce whose right to
exploitable workforce whose right to
exploitable workforce whose right to work does not equate to a secure future
work does not equate to a secure future
work does not equate to a secure future their protection and asylum in Uganda is
their protection and asylum in Uganda is
their protection and asylum in Uganda is conditional this organization of refugee
conditional this organization of refugee
conditional this organization of refugee lives rajul imperative of protection and
lives rajul imperative of protection and
lives rajul imperative of protection and productivity is what I call a form of
productivity is what I call a form of
productivity is what I call a form of humanitarian exploitation so that’s a
humanitarian exploitation so that’s a
humanitarian exploitation so that’s a system of humanitarianism that is based
system of humanitarianism that is based
system of humanitarianism that is based around this ideal of self-reliance but
around this ideal of self-reliance but
around this ideal of self-reliance but which actually propels refugees to
which actually propels refugees to
which actually propels refugees to pursue precarious livelihoods in often
pursue precarious livelihoods in often
pursue precarious livelihoods in often exploitative conditions in such
exploitative conditions in such
exploitative conditions in such situations the possibility of a new life
situations the possibility of a new life
situations the possibility of a new life that Sara dreams about seems
that Sara dreams about seems
that Sara dreams about seems unattainable providing refugees with
unattainable providing refugees with
unattainable providing refugees with riots is undoubtedly better than placing
riots is undoubtedly better than placing
riots is undoubtedly better than placing them into camps but just providing
them into camps but just providing
them into camps but just providing rights is never
rights is never
rights is never enough all people citizens or refugees
enough all people citizens or refugees
enough all people citizens or refugees require rights to be enforced without
require rights to be enforced without
require rights to be enforced without that refugees will continue to
that refugees will continue to
that refugees will continue to experience displacement but it will not
experience displacement but it will not
experience displacement but it will not be a displacement of violence or war or
be a displacement of violence or war or
be a displacement of violence or war or migration it will be a displacement of
migration it will be a displacement of
migration it will be a displacement of living a disrupted life of existing in
living a disrupted life of existing in
living a disrupted life of existing in the present towards an uncertain future
the present towards an uncertain future
the present towards an uncertain future it is precarity but many people who are
it is precarity but many people who are
it is precarity but many people who are not refugees endure such experiences so
not refugees endure such experiences so
not refugees endure such experiences so what this means is that displacement is
what this means is that displacement is
what this means is that displacement is not an exceptional experience rather
not an exceptional experience rather
not an exceptional experience rather refugees represent what I call a form of
refugees represent what I call a form of
refugees represent what I call a form of ordinary displacement and what I mean by
ordinary displacement and what I mean by
ordinary displacement and what I mean by that is an experience of displacement
that is an experience of displacement
that is an experience of displacement that is defined by pervasive precarity
that is defined by pervasive precarity
that is defined by pervasive precarity in which a sense of the future is
in which a sense of the future is
in which a sense of the future is acutely uncertain but this becomes a
acutely uncertain but this becomes a
acutely uncertain but this becomes a defining feature of everyday life many
defining feature of everyday life many
defining feature of everyday life many people exist in such States of ordinary
people exist in such States of ordinary
people exist in such States of ordinary displacement from people who are caught
displacement from people who are caught
displacement from people who are caught up in the increasingly casualized and
up in the increasingly casualized and
up in the increasingly casualized and informal work force to people who have
informal work force to people who have
informal work force to people who have become homeless to people on a minimum
become homeless to people on a minimum
become homeless to people on a minimum that not a living wage that is people
that not a living wage that is people
that not a living wage that is people whose very lives and survival has come
whose very lives and survival has come
whose very lives and survival has come to depend on being exploitable this
to depend on being exploitable this
to depend on being exploitable this crisis of refugees is not a singularly
crisis of refugees is not a singularly
crisis of refugees is not a singularly humanitarian problem exploring this
humanitarian problem exploring this
humanitarian problem exploring this blurred and ambivalent lying between
blurred and ambivalent lying between
blurred and ambivalent lying between humanitarianism and exploitation between
humanitarianism and exploitation between
humanitarianism and exploitation between exclusion and integration custody and
exclusion and integration custody and
exclusion and integration custody and care collapses the dichotomy between
care collapses the dichotomy between
care collapses the dichotomy between refugee and citizen it demands that we
refugee and citizen it demands that we
refugee and citizen it demands that we think about how forces of precarity
think about how forces of precarity
think about how forces of precarity shape shared experiences and impact on
shape shared experiences and impact on
shape shared experiences and impact on our shared humanity by D exceptional
our shared humanity by D exceptional
our shared humanity by D exceptional izing displacement we can begin to
izing displacement we can begin to
izing displacement we can begin to understand how forces of precarity
understand how forces of precarity
understand how forces of precarity connect us globally only then can this
connect us globally only then can this
connect us globally only then can this idea of a new life of security and
idea of a new life of security and
idea of a new life of security and stability that Sarah and
stability that Sarah and
stability that Sarah and or many people dream of move from being
or many people dream of move from being
or many people dream of move from being a dream to reality
[Music] you
so in 2013 I was sitting on the steps of
so in 2013 I was sitting on the steps of an apartment block in Kampala which is
an apartment block in Kampala which is
an apartment block in Kampala which is the busy capital city of Uganda and I
the busy capital city of Uganda and I
the busy capital city of Uganda and I was there with Sara who had come to the
was there with Sara who had come to the
was there with Sara who had come to the city a year previously as a refugee so a
city a year previously as a refugee so a
city a year previously as a refugee so a refugee is a person who has been forced
refugee is a person who has been forced
refugee is a person who has been forced to flee their country due to violence
to flee their country due to violence
to flee their country due to violence war and persecution but a refugee is not
war and persecution but a refugee is not
war and persecution but a refugee is not a citizen so when they go to seek asylum
a citizen so when they go to seek asylum
a citizen so when they go to seek asylum in another country the only rights that
in another country the only rights that
in another country the only rights that they have access to are those that are
they have access to are those that are
they have access to are those that are provided by the country in which they’ve
provided by the country in which they’ve
provided by the country in which they’ve sought asylum and this can lead to
sought asylum and this can lead to
sought asylum and this can lead to insecurity so Sara and her family had
insecurity so Sara and her family had
insecurity so Sara and her family had come to Uganda after fleeing war in the
come to Uganda after fleeing war in the
come to Uganda after fleeing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but
Democratic Republic of the Congo but
Democratic Republic of the Congo but even though Uganda had provided them
even though Uganda had provided them
even though Uganda had provided them with security and protection on this
with security and protection on this
with security and protection on this particular morning Sara told me we need
particular morning Sara told me we need
particular morning Sara told me we need a new life and as she said this sweat
a new life and as she said this sweat
a new life and as she said this sweat from her brow dripped into this bucket
from her brow dripped into this bucket
from her brow dripped into this bucket of freshly washed clothes in front of
of freshly washed clothes in front of
of freshly washed clothes in front of her so laundering was one of the many
her so laundering was one of the many
her so laundering was one of the many informal jobs that Sara did to try and
informal jobs that Sara did to try and
informal jobs that Sara did to try and boost the meager income that was made by
boost the meager income that was made by
boost the meager income that was made by her husband and to try and look after
her husband and to try and look after
her husband and to try and look after their three small children we need a new
their three small children we need a new
their three small children we need a new life Sara told me the life here is
life Sara told me the life here is
life Sara told me the life here is killing us so what does it mean that a
killing us so what does it mean that a
killing us so what does it mean that a country which is supposed to provide
country which is supposed to provide
country which is supposed to provide protection to refugees can actually lead
protection to refugees can actually lead
protection to refugees can actually lead them to claim that the life there is
them to claim that the life there is
them to claim that the life there is killing them clearly there’s a
killing them clearly there’s a
killing them clearly there’s a discrepancy between how humanitarian
discrepancy between how humanitarian
discrepancy between how humanitarian institutions imagine the protection of
institutions imagine the protection of
institutions imagine the protection of refugees and how refugees themselves
refugees and how refugees themselves
refugees and how refugees themselves experience it the United Nations
experience it the United Nations
experience it the United Nations estimates that there are currently 65
estimates that there are currently 65
estimates that there are currently 65 million people living in a state of
million people living in a state of
million people living in a state of displacement that’s three times the
displacement that’s three times the
displacement that’s three times the population of my home country Australia
population of my home country Australia
population of my home country Australia but despite these significant numbers
but despite these significant numbers
but despite these significant numbers refugees and X displacement continue to
refugees and X displacement continue to
refugees and X displacement continue to be treated as exceptional experiences
be treated as exceptional experiences
be treated as exceptional experiences but for Refugees that I got to know
but for Refugees that I got to know
but for Refugees that I got to know while doing anthropological fieldwork
while doing anthropological fieldwork
while doing anthropological fieldwork with it’s not such a cute
with it’s not such a cute
with it’s not such a cute vents of displacement that come to
vents of displacement that come to
vents of displacement that come to define their everyday lives rather it’s
define their everyday lives rather it’s
define their everyday lives rather it’s this sense of everyday precarity that is
this sense of everyday precarity that is
this sense of everyday precarity that is slowly killing them as Sara claims so
slowly killing them as Sara claims so
slowly killing them as Sara claims so precarity is a term that it’s used to
precarity is a term that it’s used to
precarity is a term that it’s used to describe a state of precarious existence
describe a state of precarious existence
describe a state of precarious existence in which everyday life is characterized
in which everyday life is characterized
in which everyday life is characterized by instability of work housing and
by instability of work housing and
by instability of work housing and family life but such precarity is not
family life but such precarity is not
family life but such precarity is not exclusive to the lives of refugees this
exclusive to the lives of refugees this
exclusive to the lives of refugees this kind of precarity is increasingly come
kind of precarity is increasingly come
kind of precarity is increasingly come to characterize people’s lives
to characterize people’s lives
to characterize people’s lives everywhere what this means is that
everywhere what this means is that
everywhere what this means is that displacement is not an exceptional
displacement is not an exceptional
displacement is not an exceptional experience so in order to make such a
experience so in order to make such a
experience so in order to make such a claim we need to understand the kind of
claim we need to understand the kind of
claim we need to understand the kind of lives that refugees lead so like Sara a
lives that refugees lead so like Sara a
lives that refugees lead so like Sara a vast majority an overwhelming majority
vast majority an overwhelming majority
vast majority an overwhelming majority of refugees live in a country of asylum
of refugees live in a country of asylum
of refugees live in a country of asylum so this is a country that has provided
so this is a country that has provided
so this is a country that has provided them with temporary protection but which
them with temporary protection but which
them with temporary protection but which does not allow them to permanently
does not allow them to permanently
does not allow them to permanently settle in those situations refugees may
settle in those situations refugees may
settle in those situations refugees may be unable to access employment rights
be unable to access employment rights
be unable to access employment rights education even the choice of where to
education even the choice of where to
education even the choice of where to live and this stifles social mobility
live and this stifles social mobility
live and this stifles social mobility but many refugees spend lengthy periods
but many refugees spend lengthy periods
but many refugees spend lengthy periods of time in those situations sometimes
of time in those situations sometimes
of time in those situations sometimes years even decades some simply do not
years even decades some simply do not
years even decades some simply do not have a home to return to at all so how
have a home to return to at all so how
have a home to return to at all so how to resolve such situations the
to resolve such situations the
to resolve such situations the contemporary approach or the
contemporary approach or the
contemporary approach or the conventional approach has been to place
conventional approach has been to place
conventional approach has been to place refugees into camps where they can be
refugees into camps where they can be
refugees into camps where they can be better provided with humanitarian aid
better provided with humanitarian aid
better provided with humanitarian aid but of course doing that inserts
but of course doing that inserts
but of course doing that inserts refugees into this hierarchical
refugees into this hierarchical
refugees into this hierarchical relationship of power with humanitarian
relationship of power with humanitarian
relationship of power with humanitarian institutions who they can come to depend
institutions who they can come to depend
institutions who they can come to depend upon and besides in camping someone
upon and besides in camping someone
upon and besides in camping someone completely restricts their freedom
completely restricts their freedom
completely restricts their freedom despite that with the number of refugees
despite that with the number of refugees
despite that with the number of refugees at a global high it’s simply
at a global high it’s simply
at a global high it’s simply unsustainable to try and put everyone
unsustainable to try and put everyone
unsustainable to try and put everyone into a camp no matter how hard
into a camp no matter how hard
into a camp no matter how hard governments might try and so the United
governments might try and so the United
governments might try and so the United Nations and governments everywhere are
Nations and governments everywhere are
Nations and governments everywhere are seeking new solutions to displacement
seeking new solutions to displacement
seeking new solutions to displacement increasingly these solutions are rights
increasingly these solutions are rights
increasingly these solutions are rights based
based
based and that means that they are involving
and that means that they are involving
and that means that they are involving dismantling humanitarian aid systems and
dismantling humanitarian aid systems and
dismantling humanitarian aid systems and instead providing refugees with rights
instead providing refugees with rights
instead providing refugees with rights to work under the premise that doing so
to work under the premise that doing so
to work under the premise that doing so will enable them to become self-reliant
will enable them to become self-reliant
will enable them to become self-reliant effectively self-reliance is the
effectively self-reliance is the
effectively self-reliance is the alternative to humanitarian aid but just
alternative to humanitarian aid but just
alternative to humanitarian aid but just because something is an alternative to a
because something is an alternative to a
because something is an alternative to a broken system does not mean that it is
broken system does not mean that it is
broken system does not mean that it is inherently benevolent in intention and
inherently benevolent in intention and
inherently benevolent in intention and affect these rights based solutions are
affect these rights based solutions are
affect these rights based solutions are similarly steeped in power relationships
similarly steeped in power relationships
similarly steeped in power relationships so the problem with rights based
so the problem with rights based
so the problem with rights based solutions is that they assume that
solutions is that they assume that
solutions is that they assume that displacement is a political legal
displacement is a political legal
displacement is a political legal condition of being unable to access the
condition of being unable to access the
condition of being unable to access the rights of citizens which implies that
rights of citizens which implies that
rights of citizens which implies that simply reinserting a refugee back into a
simply reinserting a refugee back into a
simply reinserting a refugee back into a situation where they can claim civic
situation where they can claim civic
situation where they can claim civic rights will simply resolve their
rights will simply resolve their
rights will simply resolve their displacement but this leads to a more
displacement but this leads to a more
displacement but this leads to a more fundamentally flawed assumption that
fundamentally flawed assumption that
fundamentally flawed assumption that citizenship and security are analogous
citizenship and security are analogous
citizenship and security are analogous so citizenship no longer confers and
so citizenship no longer confers and
so citizenship no longer confers and enforces inalienable rights if indeed it
enforces inalienable rights if indeed it
enforces inalienable rights if indeed it ever really did so from austerity
ever really did so from austerity
ever really did so from austerity measures in Europe to the dismantling of
measures in Europe to the dismantling of
measures in Europe to the dismantling of the welfare state pretty much everywhere
the welfare state pretty much everywhere
the welfare state pretty much everywhere we’re currently witnessing the erosion
we’re currently witnessing the erosion
we’re currently witnessing the erosion of what it means to claim and experience
of what it means to claim and experience
of what it means to claim and experience the benefits of citizenship the state is
the benefits of citizenship the state is
the benefits of citizenship the state is no longer a stable basis of security
no longer a stable basis of security
no longer a stable basis of security that responsibility is now untethered
that responsibility is now untethered
that responsibility is now untethered so if citizenship no longer gives
so if citizenship no longer gives
so if citizenship no longer gives security vanda’s providing refugees with
security vanda’s providing refugees with
security vanda’s providing refugees with civic rights actually resolve their
civic rights actually resolve their
civic rights actually resolve their displacement let us return to Uganda so
displacement let us return to Uganda so
displacement let us return to Uganda so that Uganda is considered by the UNHCR
that Uganda is considered by the UNHCR
that Uganda is considered by the UNHCR to be one of the most refugee friendly
to be one of the most refugee friendly
to be one of the most refugee friendly countries in the world so Uganda has
countries in the world so Uganda has
countries in the world so Uganda has long upheld a rights-based system of
long upheld a rights-based system of
long upheld a rights-based system of asylum so this means that refugees in
asylum so this means that refugees in
asylum so this means that refugees in Uganda are supposed to become
Uganda are supposed to become
Uganda are supposed to become self-reliant through either subsistence
self-reliant through either subsistence
self-reliant through either subsistence agriculture legal employment or becoming
agriculture legal employment or becoming
agriculture legal employment or becoming business entrepreneurs and this is
business entrepreneurs and this is
business entrepreneurs and this is supposed to be empowering for refugees
supposed to be empowering for refugees
supposed to be empowering for refugees but the experiences of
but the experiences of
but the experiences of people I got tonight tell a different
people I got tonight tell a different
people I got tonight tell a different story let us return to Sarah when I
story let us return to Sarah when I
story let us return to Sarah when I first met Sarah she was working about
first met Sarah she was working about
first met Sarah she was working about three different jobs sometimes up to 20
three different jobs sometimes up to 20
three different jobs sometimes up to 20 hours a day her husband at that time was
hours a day her husband at that time was
hours a day her husband at that time was out of work and that was because he was
out of work and that was because he was
out of work and that was because he was still recovering from injuries that he
still recovering from injuries that he
still recovering from injuries that he had sustained on a workplace where he’d
had sustained on a workplace where he’d
had sustained on a workplace where he’d been beaten up by people who were
been beaten up by people who were
been beaten up by people who were xenophobic so prior to that he’d been a
xenophobic so prior to that he’d been a
xenophobic so prior to that he’d been a casual laborer but he’d been routinely
casual laborer but he’d been routinely
casual laborer but he’d been routinely underpaid by his employers because he
underpaid by his employers because he
underpaid by his employers because he was a refugee and that’s illegal but
was a refugee and that’s illegal but
was a refugee and that’s illegal but sadly it’s very common in Uganda for
sadly it’s very common in Uganda for
sadly it’s very common in Uganda for Refugees so one day after work he had
Refugees so one day after work he had
Refugees so one day after work he had people on whose worksite had taken
people on whose worksite had taken
people on whose worksite had taken offense to him being there and they’d
offense to him being there and they’d
offense to him being there and they’d savagely beaten him up so he was unable
savagely beaten him up so he was unable
savagely beaten him up so he was unable to work for many months other refugees
to work for many months other refugees
to work for many months other refugees told me similarly precarious livelihood
told me similarly precarious livelihood
told me similarly precarious livelihood strategies some women told me that their
strategies some women told me that their
strategies some women told me that their entire livelihood depended on selling
entire livelihood depended on selling
entire livelihood depended on selling packets of tissue on the side of the
packets of tissue on the side of the
packets of tissue on the side of the road still others told me about engaging
road still others told me about engaging
road still others told me about engaging in survival sex that is having sex with
in survival sex that is having sex with
in survival sex that is having sex with people for food shelter or money as a
people for food shelter or money as a
people for food shelter or money as a way to survive
way to survive
way to survive not exactly stories of security so while
not exactly stories of security so while
not exactly stories of security so while some refugees in Kampala flourish many
some refugees in Kampala flourish many
some refugees in Kampala flourish many do not these refugees have become an
do not these refugees have become an
do not these refugees have become an exploitable workforce whose right to
exploitable workforce whose right to
exploitable workforce whose right to work does not equate to a secure future
work does not equate to a secure future
work does not equate to a secure future their protection and asylum in Uganda is
their protection and asylum in Uganda is
their protection and asylum in Uganda is conditional this organization of refugee
conditional this organization of refugee
conditional this organization of refugee lives rajul imperative of protection and
lives rajul imperative of protection and
lives rajul imperative of protection and productivity is what I call a form of
productivity is what I call a form of
productivity is what I call a form of humanitarian exploitation so that’s a
humanitarian exploitation so that’s a
humanitarian exploitation so that’s a system of humanitarianism that is based
system of humanitarianism that is based
system of humanitarianism that is based around this ideal of self-reliance but
around this ideal of self-reliance but
around this ideal of self-reliance but which actually propels refugees to
which actually propels refugees to
which actually propels refugees to pursue precarious livelihoods in often
pursue precarious livelihoods in often
pursue precarious livelihoods in often exploitative conditions in such
exploitative conditions in such
exploitative conditions in such situations the possibility of a new life
situations the possibility of a new life
situations the possibility of a new life that Sara dreams about seems
that Sara dreams about seems
that Sara dreams about seems unattainable providing refugees with
unattainable providing refugees with
unattainable providing refugees with riots is undoubtedly better than placing
riots is undoubtedly better than placing
riots is undoubtedly better than placing them into camps but just providing
them into camps but just providing
them into camps but just providing rights is never
rights is never
rights is never enough all people citizens or refugees
enough all people citizens or refugees
enough all people citizens or refugees require rights to be enforced without
require rights to be enforced without
require rights to be enforced without that refugees will continue to
that refugees will continue to
that refugees will continue to experience displacement but it will not
experience displacement but it will not
experience displacement but it will not be a displacement of violence or war or
be a displacement of violence or war or
be a displacement of violence or war or migration it will be a displacement of
migration it will be a displacement of
migration it will be a displacement of living a disrupted life of existing in
living a disrupted life of existing in
living a disrupted life of existing in the present towards an uncertain future
the present towards an uncertain future
the present towards an uncertain future it is precarity but many people who are
it is precarity but many people who are
it is precarity but many people who are not refugees endure such experiences so
not refugees endure such experiences so
not refugees endure such experiences so what this means is that displacement is
what this means is that displacement is
what this means is that displacement is not an exceptional experience rather
not an exceptional experience rather
not an exceptional experience rather refugees represent what I call a form of
refugees represent what I call a form of
refugees represent what I call a form of ordinary displacement and what I mean by
ordinary displacement and what I mean by
ordinary displacement and what I mean by that is an experience of displacement
that is an experience of displacement
that is an experience of displacement that is defined by pervasive precarity
that is defined by pervasive precarity
that is defined by pervasive precarity in which a sense of the future is
in which a sense of the future is
in which a sense of the future is acutely uncertain but this becomes a
acutely uncertain but this becomes a
acutely uncertain but this becomes a defining feature of everyday life many
defining feature of everyday life many
defining feature of everyday life many people exist in such States of ordinary
people exist in such States of ordinary
people exist in such States of ordinary displacement from people who are caught
displacement from people who are caught
displacement from people who are caught up in the increasingly casualized and
up in the increasingly casualized and
up in the increasingly casualized and informal work force to people who have
informal work force to people who have
informal work force to people who have become homeless to people on a minimum
become homeless to people on a minimum
become homeless to people on a minimum that not a living wage that is people
that not a living wage that is people
that not a living wage that is people whose very lives and survival has come
whose very lives and survival has come
whose very lives and survival has come to depend on being exploitable this
to depend on being exploitable this
to depend on being exploitable this crisis of refugees is not a singularly
crisis of refugees is not a singularly
crisis of refugees is not a singularly humanitarian problem exploring this
humanitarian problem exploring this
humanitarian problem exploring this blurred and ambivalent lying between
blurred and ambivalent lying between
blurred and ambivalent lying between humanitarianism and exploitation between
humanitarianism and exploitation between
humanitarianism and exploitation between exclusion and integration custody and
exclusion and integration custody and
exclusion and integration custody and care collapses the dichotomy between
care collapses the dichotomy between
care collapses the dichotomy between refugee and citizen it demands that we
refugee and citizen it demands that we
refugee and citizen it demands that we think about how forces of precarity
think about how forces of precarity
think about how forces of precarity shape shared experiences and impact on
shape shared experiences and impact on
shape shared experiences and impact on our shared humanity by D exceptional
our shared humanity by D exceptional
our shared humanity by D exceptional izing displacement we can begin to
izing displacement we can begin to
izing displacement we can begin to understand how forces of precarity
understand how forces of precarity
understand how forces of precarity connect us globally only then can this
connect us globally only then can this
connect us globally only then can this idea of a new life of security and
idea of a new life of security and
idea of a new life of security and stability that Sarah and
stability that Sarah and
stability that Sarah and or many people dream of move from being
or many people dream of move from being
or many people dream of move from being a dream to reality
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