Narratives on Migration in Times of Crisis
Interviews between asylum seekers and territorial commissioners are an essential part of the asylum application process in Italy and many other European countries. In most cases, decisions are based mainly on what applicants say during these interviews, rather than on documentary evidence. As a result, asylum authorities evaluate whether the
...
Crises are often understood as moments of urgency and disruption that require fast decisions and can have far-reaching consequences for our social systems in both the short and long term. Yet, they are not experienced in the same way by everyone. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how different these experiences can
...
Mainstream media coverage of two crises unfolding at the European Union (EU) borders in Italy and Spain often neglects the human realities of migration. Migrants are made invisible, while attention focuses on criminality, security, and border control. When they do appear, they are frequently placed, often without scrutiny, into rigid
...
The word “narrative” increasingly appears in discussions of migration, but its analytical meaning is rarely specified. Campaigners often speak of the need for a “new narrative” on migration, while some narratives, such as “the Great Replacement,” have entered public consciousness. Narratives are not just stories or slogans. They are selective
...
