Mobilization Against Asylum Seekers in Contemporary Urban Spaces : Not in Our Backyard

This book investigates the issue of local mobilization against asylum seekers in urban areas, which are often disproportionally affected by complex issues related to immigration and integration, as well as socio-economic development and growing inequalities. Based on ethnographic research in the city of Rotterdam, it explores the conditions under which mobilization against the establishment of an asylum seekers’ centre emerged, offering a combined analysis of interviews, social media, and mainstream media to demonstrate the key role played by storytelling in the development of opposition to the arrival of asylum seekers. Presenting a theoretical model of anti-immigration mobilization that connects the social importance of storytelling to broader socio-political developments and conditions, this volume will appeal to scholars of sociology, anthropology, and politics with interests in migration, social movements, and mobilization around contentious issues. This book investigates the issue of local mobilization against asylum seekers in urban areas, which are often disproportionally affected by complex issues related to immigration and integration, as well as socio-economic development and growing inequalities. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of figures 9 List of tables 10 1. Introduction: The refugee crisis in an urban context 12 2. Why do people protest against asylum seekers? A story-based approach 19 3. Immigration and urban space: The Dutch context 68 4. Stories and the self: Identity and fear of the ‘other’ 92 5. Stories you can touch: Urban materiality and protest 117 6. Voiceless stories: Contentious politics and distrust 134 7. Media coverage of protest: Dominant stories and counterstories 164 8. An online echo chamber? Social media and mobilization 181 9. Conclusion: Why stories matter 200 Index 214 immigration;,protest;,storytelling;,story-telling;,asylum,seekers;,urban,communities;,narrative;,urban,space;,radical,right;,Europe;,The,Netherlands;,mobilization;,methodology;,sociology;,mobilisation;,social,movements immigration,protest,storytelling,story-telling,asylum seekers,urban communities,narrative,urban space,radical right,Europe,The Netherlands,mobilization,methodology,sociology,mobilisation,social movements "This book investigates the issue of local mobilization against asylum seekers in urban areas, which are often disproportionally affected by complex issues related to immigration and integration, as well as socio-economic development and growing inequalities. Based on ethnographic research in the city of Rotterdam, it explores the conditions under which mobilization against the establishment of an asylum seeker centre emerged, offering a combined analysis of interviews, social media and mainstream media to demonstrate the key role played by story-telling in the development of opposition to the arrival of asylum seekers. Presenting a novel theoretical model of anti-immigration mobilization that connects the social importance of storytelling to broader socio-political developments and conditions, this volume will appeal to scholars of sociology, anthropology and politics with interests in migration, social movements and mobilization around contentious issues"-- Provided by publisher This book investigates the issue of local mobilization against asylum seekers in urban areas, which are often disproportionately affected by complex issues related to immigration and integration, as well as socio-economic development and growing inequalities. Based on ethnographic research in the city of Rotterdam, it explores the conditions under which mobilization against the establishment of an asylum seekers’ centre emerged, offering a combined analysis of interviews, social media, and mainstream media to demonstrate the key role played by storytelling in the development of opposition to the arrival of asylum seekers. Presenting a theoretical model of anti-immigration mobilization that connects the social importance of storytelling to broader socio-political developments and conditions, this volume will appeal to scholars of sociology, anthropology, and politics with interests in migration, social movements, and mobilization around contentious issues.