“(…) 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
Authors | Graca, S. and Kapageorgiadou, V. |
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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. |
Keywords | Migrants; Legal Consciousness; Human rights; European Union ; Refugees; Asylum seekers |
Year | 2024 |
Journal | Law & Policy |
Journal citation | 46 (3), pp. 1-26 |
Publisher | Wiley |
ISSN | 1467-9930 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/lapo.12256 |
Official URL | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/lapo.12256 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 24 Sep 2024 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 01 Sep 2024 |
Deposited | 25 Sep 2024 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Output status | Published |
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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Publisher's version
Law Policy - 2024 - Graca - here I have freedom A study of refugees and asylum seekers legal consciousness in Greece .pdf | ||
License: CC BY 4.0 | ||
File access level: Open |
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