“(…) Here I have freedom”—A study of refugees' and asylum seekers' legal consciousness in Greece: Self-identity, human rights, and expectations from European Union law

Journal article


Graca, S. and Kapageorgiadou, V. 2024. “(…) Here I have freedom”—A study of refugees' and asylum seekers' legal consciousness in Greece: Self-identity, human rights, and expectations from European Union law. Law & Policy. 46 (3), pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1111/lapo.12256
AuthorsGraca, S. and Kapageorgiadou, V.
Abstract

This paper adds to the existing knowledge on migration and the law by empirically exploring the legal consciousness of 33 refugees and asylum seekers in Greece, more specifically, by discussing how their experiences, self-identity and expectations of the law inform their reactions to the restrictions imposed upon them. The findings suggest that (1) legal knowledge is acquired in the countries of origin and from contact with smugglers, other migrants, law enforcement agents and staff from NGOs; (2) this knowledge allows them to forge an identity as “rights-bearers,” which (3) together with perceptions and expectations of human rights law and European Union policies on migration, (4) empower them to claim protection from the Greek state, and (5) legitimizes their actions, even if these sometimes involve subterfuge. Despite their particularly vulnerable positions, refugees and asylum seekers are, therefore, not mere passive receivers of state power, but also try to use the law to overcome adversity, in an almost game-like fashion.

KeywordsMigrants; Legal Consciousness; Human rights; European Union ; Refugees; Asylum seekers
Year2024
JournalLaw & Policy
Journal citation46 (3), pp. 1-26
PublisherWiley
ISSN1467-9930
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/lapo.12256
Official URLhttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/lapo.12256
Publication dates
Online24 Sep 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Sep 2024
Deposited25 Sep 2024
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
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https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/9926q/-here-i-have-freedom-a-study-of-refugees-and-asylum-seekers-legal-consciousness-in-greece-self-identity-human-rights-and-expectations-from-european-union-law

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