The research will be conducted in 3 interrelated sociospatial scales
National and transnational scale
The overall question in this scale is how camps are funded and draws mainly from economic studies and economic geography. The aim is not to scandalize money given to or spent by NGO’s or other actors, as it is often the case in media reports. Rather, by following the money, the objective is to understand how camps operate and which are the -often unstated- political priorities. Furthermore the objective of CamPEconomies is to raise questions around the economic efficiency of camps as a model of temporary accommodation in comparison to other models (e.g. apartments in the cities, permanent structures) that provide better living conditions for refugees and pave the way for more vivid participation in local social and economic networks.
Questions
- How are refugee camps funded?
- Which actors are primarily responsible for funding?
- Have there been shifts in funding priorities over the years?
- Have new actors become involved over time, and have any withdrawn?
- Is there a connection between camp administration and the funding chain of command?
- What percentage of funding is allocated to various sectors (e.g., infrastructure, maintenance, security, hygiene, aid, social services)?
- How many people are employed within the camp, in which sectors, and for what duration?
- Who is responsible for hiring camp personnel, and what types of contracts are offered?
- Has there been a change in the composition of personnel over the years?
Local scale
The overarching question on this scale revolves around the existence of economic relations, encompassing service provision, consumption, and labor, between refugee camps and their surrounding areas. This inquiry primarily draws from economic and social geography. Rather than presuming that camps exist in isolation, the investigation aims to scrutinize the economic interactions with neighboring regions. By closely examining these interactions, the objective is to uncover a potentially intricate network of formal and informal exchanges, fostering economic and social ties between the camp and its surroundings.
Questions
- Do local authorities and/or businesses offer services, products, or infrastructure to the camp (e.g., cleaning services, catering, maintenance)?
- Are individuals from local communities employed within the camps?
- Are there grassroots initiatives catering to the needs of refugees?
- Do refugees utilize the markets and services available in surrounding cities?
- Are refugees engaged in employment outside the camp?
- Do various policies and priorities either facilitate or hinder interactions between the camp and the city?
Grassroots scale
The overall question in this third scale is how refugees make a living in the camps. Do refugees solely rely on aid or do they employ other resources and practices in order to make ends meet?
On this scale gender, ethnicity, social and class background will be central in the analysis of the economic practices. Drawing from economic anthropology and feminist theory, economy will be conceptualized in a broad way, including social reproduction, sharing and care. Challenging the notions of “wasted” or “bare” lives, the ethnographic research aims to shed light on the myriad everyday practices of the refugees who try to re-built their livelihoods even if they are stranded in camps. From a policy point of view, to understand these practices could lead to the development of different projects and initiatives that encourage the self-reliance of the refugees.
Questions
- What types of aid are provided to refugees in the camps, and how is it distributed?
- Are certain people considered deserving or undeserving of aid, and how does this affect social relations within the camp?
- How do refugees conceive and make use of the aid they receive?
- Are there conflicts related to the distribution of aid?
- Are there employment opportunities for refugees within the camp?
- Is there an informal market offering services or goods?
- If so, how is it organized?
- Do refugees work outside the camp, and if so, where and under what conditions?
- Are there grassroots sharing practices (e.g., food, supplies, knowledge)?
- If so, how are these organized (e.g., by family, ethnic background, friends)?
- Do some individuals rely on support from broader networks (e.g., family in Europe or the country of origin)?