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Hopes and fears : the case of Georgian asylum seekers in the EU

Chachava, Meri LU (2020) MIDM19 20201
Department of Human Geography
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Abstract
Since March 2017, when the EC allowed visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Georgian citizens, the member states warned about the sharp and continuous rise in the number of unfounded asylum seekers from Georgia. It became the subject of active discussion at the political level, as the visa-waiver deal with the EU is an important aspect of EU-Georgia relations. Even though the rising number of Georgian asylum seekers is high on the political agenda, there is a lack of qualitative understanding of the reasons for asylum flow.

Utilizing a qualitative method, this thesis responds to the urgent need to increase the understanding of why Georgians are seeking asylum from the viewpoint of the asylum seekers themselves. Guided by Robinson... (More)
Since March 2017, when the EC allowed visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Georgian citizens, the member states warned about the sharp and continuous rise in the number of unfounded asylum seekers from Georgia. It became the subject of active discussion at the political level, as the visa-waiver deal with the EU is an important aspect of EU-Georgia relations. Even though the rising number of Georgian asylum seekers is high on the political agenda, there is a lack of qualitative understanding of the reasons for asylum flow.

Utilizing a qualitative method, this thesis responds to the urgent need to increase the understanding of why Georgians are seeking asylum from the viewpoint of the asylum seekers themselves. Guided by Robinson and Segrott’s (2002) model, this study indicates that Georgian asylum seekers’ decisions to leave the home country are very complex based on growing fears of being subjected to threats to their safety, discrimination, and violence, and hopes for improving their lives. Additionally, while Georgian asylum seekers are active agents in their decision-making, their choices of destination are influenced by the structural factors, such as visa-free travel, social networks, knowledge, and policy measures, which do not totally individualise their decisions. (Less)
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author
Chachava, Meri LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Georgia, Visa-free, EU, Asylum Seekers, Push and Pull Factors, Decision-Making Process, Social Networks
language
English
id
9008926
date added to LUP
2020-06-12 16:13:34
date last changed
2020-06-12 16:13:34
@misc{9008926,
  abstract     = {{Since March 2017, when the EC allowed visa-free travel to the Schengen area for Georgian citizens, the member states warned about the sharp and continuous rise in the number of unfounded asylum seekers from Georgia. It became the subject of active discussion at the political level, as the visa-waiver deal with the EU is an important aspect of EU-Georgia relations. Even though the rising number of Georgian asylum seekers is high on the political agenda, there is a lack of qualitative understanding of the reasons for asylum flow. 

Utilizing a qualitative method, this thesis responds to the urgent need to increase the understanding of why Georgians are seeking asylum from the viewpoint of the asylum seekers themselves. Guided by Robinson and Segrott’s (2002) model, this study indicates that Georgian asylum seekers’ decisions to leave the home country are very complex based on growing fears of being subjected to threats to their safety, discrimination, and violence, and hopes for improving their lives. Additionally, while Georgian asylum seekers are active agents in their decision-making, their choices of destination are influenced by the structural factors, such as visa-free travel, social networks, knowledge, and policy measures, which do not totally individualise their decisions.}},
  author       = {{Chachava, Meri}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Hopes and fears : the case of Georgian asylum seekers in the EU}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}