Programme full

Thursday 16 April 2014 13:30 - 15:00
PAPER SESSION 5
towards a 'civic' model. However, the dichotomy of ethic and civic models obscures the complexity of framings of
citizenship among political parties in the Greek 'crisis' landscape. Drawing on the discourse analysis of parliamentary
debates and party documents on the introduction and subsequent modifications of the controversial Law 3838/2010,
the paper argues, first, that while parties of the left tend to favour migrant rights and political participation and parties
of the right prioritise the preservation of the imagined national community, discursive constructions combine elements
of not only ethnic and civic, but also civic integrationist and participatory models of citizenship. Secondly, efforts to
create a more inclusive citizenship regime have been impeded by the resurgence of exclusionary discourses of
identity and citizenship among parties of the political right in the context of deep social crisis. Subsequent reforms of
the citizenship law illustrate how the Greek citizenship regime is still exclusionary, and leaves unresolved issues
around the inclusion of second generation immigrants.
Race, Ethnicity and Migration 3
W727, HAMISH WOOD BUILDING
RACE AND ETHNICITY SUB-STREAM: RACE, ETHNICITY AND HEALTH
Missing Voices? Migrant and Refugee Community Organizations and Anti-poverty Action in Glasgow
Piacentini, T.
(University of Glasgow)
This article discusses the largely under-researched anti-poverty work of Migrant and Refugee Community
Organizations (MRCOs) in Glasgow. The role of MRCOs as a source of social capital and critical coping and survival
mechanism in exile has received notable attention since the introduction of dispersal policy in 1999. The practices
outlined in this article contribute to this growing body of research by presenting examples of collective action
developed from within migrant community organizations. The discussion is contextualized by broader ideological and
political debates on entitlement and deservedness as they relate to migrants generally and asylum seekers
specifically. Whilst offering tangible acts of financial support, MRCO strategies are also driven by social, cultural and
political objectives which challenge structural constraints on self-determination. Varied in terms of risk and formality,
their collective action is woven through with discourses of solidarity, belonging, resistance and empowerment. The
informal nature of much of this work means that it is often missing from the broader picture of anti-poverty action and
scholarship. The article concludes with a number of recommendations that suggest ways forward for bringing this
action to the attention of academic researchers, practitioners and policy makers with an aim for developing better
community-focused research.
Problems with Targeted Interventions for African Migrants around HIV: Lessons Learned from a Qualitative
Study on Healthcare Engagement
Smith, M., McDaid, L., Wight, D.
(MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit)
This PhD research seeks to understsand what constitutes effective forms of engagement of African migrants in
Scotland with HIV interventions. Qualitative research was conducted involving participant observation at two sites (an
African religious group and an asylum seeker/refugee drop-in centre) and interviews with African migrants attending
these and three additional sites (two advocacy charities and a student association). We interviewed 27 Africans,
including economic migrants (n=8), students (n=9) and asylum seeker/refugees (n=10). We also interviewed 14
representatives from a wide range of advocacy and community organisations with high levels of African attendees.
Data were analysed thematically.
Participants' perceptions of potential future HIV related health interventions targeting the African migrant diaspora in
Scotland were largely negative. Their concerns included: that African targeted research could really be intended to
isolate the diaspora; that targeting would perpetuate the myth that HIV is solely an African issue; and misgivings about
the potential effectiveness of targeted interventions. Research participants suggested what would make an
intervention potentially successful: community based leads; intervention contexts that already have value for the
diaspora; framing that does not focus on Africans as vulnerable or at risk and other aspects.
Interventions targeted at minority groups, particularly those that perceive themselves to be a visible minority or in a
hostile environment, potentially have numerous barriers to engagement. Future intervention design should be
informed by engagement and partnership with the African diaspora in Scotland to have the greatest chance of
success, and take into account the high levels of diversity within this group.
BSA Annual Conference 2015 184
Glasgow Caledonian University