Rethinking refuge in the time of COVID-19

ABSTRACT

COVID-19 has profoundly impeded the global movement of people. Two key questions, however, remain unclear. Firstly, what are the possible medium and long-term implications of recent developments and, secondly, do they mark a departure from the existing approaches in state practices toward displaced migration? Using examples limited to Europe, we argue that the first question cannot yet be fully answered but a better understanding can be achieved by considering recent trends. The second question, we maintain, is no easier to gauge but should be facilitated by utilizing conceptual material to theorize current and infolding developments, and specifically to consider which repertoires appear especially suited as these unfold. Two literatures, one drawn from the discussion of displaced migration and the “disease” metaphor, and the other from thinking about asylum and the “racial state”, are brought together not to assert any definitive conclusion, but in order to help re-think contemporary developments.

KEYWORDS:

• Racialization
• refugees
• bordering
• COVID
• disease
• migration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Enshrined in Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention, this principle insists that “No Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his [or her] life or freedom would be threatened on account of his [or her] race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” (UNHCR, 1951).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Economic and Social Research Council: [Grant Number ES/R00451X/1].