Publication
Migrants, welfare and social citizenship in postcolonial Europe
Welfare systems play a crucial role in determining how individuals navigate their rights as citizens, but this aspect has not been given enough attention in discussions about migrant belonging in Europe. This paper published in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies focuses on the experiences of Egyptian migrant parents in Paris, Amsterdam, and Milan and explores how citizenship is performed and understood in their interactions with the welfare state.
- Author
- Anouk de Koning, Wiebe Ruijtenberg, Sukaina Chakkoura, Lucrezia Bottona, Anick Volleberghc and Milena Marches
- Date
- 08 August 2023
- Links
- Migrants, welfare and social citizenship in postcolonial Europe
While public discourses and bordering institutions often categorize citizenship based on race, these encounters within welfare settings promote a social citizenship that recognizes the right of all citizens and legalized residents to social welfare. These encounters are characterized by tangible support and assistance, which often involve personal and intimate aspects of individuals' lives. Rather than engaging with abstract notions of citizenship, these encounters rely on complex understandings of what constitutes a good life, as well as the roles, responsibilities, and deservingness of both welfare providers and recipients.