2.2 Theoretical Overview
The concept of immigrants tacitly implies and operates within a set of micro and macro-categories. First it takes into consideration identities, which might be antagonistic within the construction of the “self” definition and the definition constructed by the “other”. The realms of self-definitions are polisemantic, due to the fact that might emanate from a wide variety of categories, such as ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion etc. Nevertheless, the realm of the definition constructed by the other hovers at the interface between national and transnational discourses. Though, the axis of both are based on a stigmatized identity. Goffman defines these identities as social actors perceived as anomies by a given …show more content…
This contradiction occurs because States ponder their own interests while apprehending a transnational human rights discourse. They explain that “global logics of protection are constituted not only within but also against local logics of boundary maintenance, surveillance, and suspicion” (213). Santos (2002) finds as a cause of the above mentioned the contradictory logic of Western logic in which these identities are not subjects of human rights but objects of state-centric human rights discourses. To sum up, policies are written following the logic of a humanitarian discourse, although their syntaxes are carefully designed for being selective and …show more content…
They exist to the extent a State recognizes them. The process of transforming into juridical existent beings, is a sort of rite de passage (as defined by Van Genepp, 1909). Turner (1969) argues that the ritual is transformative, due to the fact that an individual, begins making sense, in social terms, after going through a certain ritual; an individual social life changes and becomes a sort of “persona grata” within a society. This is not a mere philosophical nor anthropological interpretation, but an explanation on how an application for immigration relief works. Human beings who request immigration relief exist in Turner’s liminal zone, or in other words, their suffering is non-existent for the State until they go through the “ritual” of the legal process. Their stories, and foremost suffering are always there, they do not disappear, nor change after being granted with an immigration status; the fact that “There is undoubtedly dignity in the decision made by migrants and asylum seekers to uproot themselves and start a new life elsewhere. There is undoubtedly dignity in the decision to undertake extremely dangerous journeys by sea or through the desert in order to escape the hardships and uncertainties of their native countries. And there is indubitably dignity in their stories of endurance, survival (for those who do survive), and hope for a better future”. (Pulitano: 2013,
The concept of immigrants tacitly implies and operates within a set of micro and macro-categories. First it takes into consideration identities, which might be antagonistic within the construction of the “self” definition and the definition constructed by the “other”. The realms of self-definitions are polisemantic, due to the fact that might emanate from a wide variety of categories, such as ethnicity, nationality, gender, religion etc. Nevertheless, the realm of the definition constructed by the other hovers at the interface between national and transnational discourses. Though, the axis of both are based on a stigmatized identity. Goffman defines these identities as social actors perceived as anomies by a given …show more content…
This contradiction occurs because States ponder their own interests while apprehending a transnational human rights discourse. They explain that “global logics of protection are constituted not only within but also against local logics of boundary maintenance, surveillance, and suspicion” (213). Santos (2002) finds as a cause of the above mentioned the contradictory logic of Western logic in which these identities are not subjects of human rights but objects of state-centric human rights discourses. To sum up, policies are written following the logic of a humanitarian discourse, although their syntaxes are carefully designed for being selective and …show more content…
They exist to the extent a State recognizes them. The process of transforming into juridical existent beings, is a sort of rite de passage (as defined by Van Genepp, 1909). Turner (1969) argues that the ritual is transformative, due to the fact that an individual, begins making sense, in social terms, after going through a certain ritual; an individual social life changes and becomes a sort of “persona grata” within a society. This is not a mere philosophical nor anthropological interpretation, but an explanation on how an application for immigration relief works. Human beings who request immigration relief exist in Turner’s liminal zone, or in other words, their suffering is non-existent for the State until they go through the “ritual” of the legal process. Their stories, and foremost suffering are always there, they do not disappear, nor change after being granted with an immigration status; the fact that “There is undoubtedly dignity in the decision made by migrants and asylum seekers to uproot themselves and start a new life elsewhere. There is undoubtedly dignity in the decision to undertake extremely dangerous journeys by sea or through the desert in order to escape the hardships and uncertainties of their native countries. And there is indubitably dignity in their stories of endurance, survival (for those who do survive), and hope for a better future”. (Pulitano: 2013,