Is rurality racist? A case study of migrant relocation to a formally defined rural area in France
(2023) SGEM08 20222Department of Human Geography
- Abstract
- This research is concerned with the relation between racism and the notion of rurality. More specifically, it studies a formally defined rural area in France where the State relocated migrants between 2016 and 2019, placing them in a derelict military camp. By so doing, the study contributes to the ongoing debate whether the rural-urban dichotomy should be considered a sufficiently realistic or desirable analytical category to study and understand social realities and phenomena. This case study was researched using two qualitative methods: interviews and participant observation. As a theoretical framework, it uses Bourdieu’s notion of social field, as well as Bouteldja’s decolonial notion of white field to better understand commonplace... (More)
- This research is concerned with the relation between racism and the notion of rurality. More specifically, it studies a formally defined rural area in France where the State relocated migrants between 2016 and 2019, placing them in a derelict military camp. By so doing, the study contributes to the ongoing debate whether the rural-urban dichotomy should be considered a sufficiently realistic or desirable analytical category to study and understand social realities and phenomena. This case study was researched using two qualitative methods: interviews and participant observation. As a theoretical framework, it uses Bourdieu’s notion of social field, as well as Bouteldja’s decolonial notion of white field to better understand commonplace rural explanations of racism. This research suggests several findings. First, the concept of rurality in itself has an alienating aspect. Secondly, migrants are used as vessels for multiple and far-reaching discriminations. Thirdly, theorizing the white field allows for highlighting its proper temporality. Finally, the State plays a significant role in framing migrants’ experiences. The research emphasizes the usefulness of decolonial critique to reveal multiple rural-unspecific oppressions that cannot be made without a recollection of the migrants’ life experiences. The study suggests that further research should focus more closely on the relation between subaltern group conditions among autochthons and migrants. Another suggestion is the need to deepen the State's functioning and its motives by introducing a decolonial perspective. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9113446
- author
- Jeauneau, Julien LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SGEM08 20222
- year
- 2023
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Rurality, Immigration, Refugees, Migrant relocation, Racism, Habitus, Field, White field, France
- language
- English
- id
- 9113446
- date added to LUP
- 2023-05-09 07:40:19
- date last changed
- 2023-05-09 07:40:19
@misc{9113446,
abstract = {{This research is concerned with the relation between racism and the notion of rurality. More specifically, it studies a formally defined rural area in France where the State relocated migrants between 2016 and 2019, placing them in a derelict military camp. By so doing, the study contributes to the ongoing debate whether the rural-urban dichotomy should be considered a sufficiently realistic or desirable analytical category to study and understand social realities and phenomena. This case study was researched using two qualitative methods: interviews and participant observation. As a theoretical framework, it uses Bourdieu’s notion of social field, as well as Bouteldja’s decolonial notion of white field to better understand commonplace rural explanations of racism. This research suggests several findings. First, the concept of rurality in itself has an alienating aspect. Secondly, migrants are used as vessels for multiple and far-reaching discriminations. Thirdly, theorizing the white field allows for highlighting its proper temporality. Finally, the State plays a significant role in framing migrants’ experiences. The research emphasizes the usefulness of decolonial critique to reveal multiple rural-unspecific oppressions that cannot be made without a recollection of the migrants’ life experiences. The study suggests that further research should focus more closely on the relation between subaltern group conditions among autochthons and migrants. Another suggestion is the need to deepen the State's functioning and its motives by introducing a decolonial perspective.}},
author = {{Jeauneau, Julien}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Is rurality racist? A case study of migrant relocation to a formally defined rural area in France}},
year = {{2023}},
}