Rethinking transit zones: migrant trajectories and transnational networks in Techno-Borderscapes

ABSTRACT

This article examines the intersections between migrants’ trajectories and digital technologies by analysing the role of mobile digital devices in the everyday lives of migrants in transit. We introduce the novel concept of techno-borderscapes to rethink transit zones as sites of embodied and virtual encounters among various state and non-state actors and to unravel the intersections between digital securitisation, humanitarianism and activism. Based on narrative, participatory and ethnographic research with migrants in transit at the France–UK border and ongoing transnational collaborations with a sub-group of former camp residents, our research shows that digital devices shape migrants’ experiences of transit, their migratory trajectories and their transnational encounters. Confronted with increased border securitisation, migrants use mobile technologies to bypass borders, create new forms of migrant-to-migrant protection and assistance, and articulate their political voice. Moving away from the general representation of transit spaces as singular points in a unidirectional migratory trajectory, our findings show that these spaces are sites of confluence of multi-directional mobilities. Transit zones are not just ‘in-between’ spaces but rather transformative and transforming spaces in which mobile digital technologies play a significant role.

KEYWORDS:

• Transit migration
• mobile technologies
• transnational networks
• digital humanitarianism
• digital securitisation
• digital activism

Acknowledgements

The authors are indebted to the ex-residents of the Calais ‘Jungle’ for their trust and willingness to share their experiences, stories and reflections with us. The authors are also extremely grateful to the anonymous reviewers, and to the special issue editors Erik Snel, Özge Bilgili and Richard Staring for their thoughtful comments and efforts towards improving our article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest is reported by the authors.

Notes

1 The aim of the project was to bring the experience of British higher education to the heart of the Calais ‘Jungle’ camp as part of a project called ‘University for All’ conducted by the University of East London. Many participants used photographic work as the basis for written assignments for the Life Stories course. More details on the Life Stories project can be found at the following website:https://www.uel.ac.uk/schools/social-sciences/our-research-and-engagement/research/centre-for-narrative-research/collaborative-research-events/life-stories-at-the-jungle-refugee-camp-calais

2 Most names used in the article are pseudonyms, often chosen by Calais residents, for the purposes of anonymity. A few participants’ real names were used when they chose to use them.