Beyond the refugee label : identity and agency among Somali refugees

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dc.contributor.advisorField, Seanen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBuyer, Meritten_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2014-09-30T13:40:43Z
dc.date.available2014-09-30T13:40:43Z
dc.date.issued2007en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes abstract.|Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-103).en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAs the world refugee population continues to rise, so the debate over how to best assist those who have been displaced intensifies. Humanitarian practices often have a disempowering effect on individuals instead of helping them to become self-sufficient. This problem is compounded by the gap between the realities on the ground and the overarching policies of both governments and organizations. In South Africa, the plethora of social issues, the lack of long-term solutions for refugee resettlement and the unsuccessful implementation of national policies relating to refugees contribute to the xenophobia that has become prevalent across the country. When the xenophobic sentiment turns violent, the Somali community has been targeted in the most extreme ways. Using the oral history methodology, this study draws on 17 life story interviews with Somali refugees residing in the Cape Town area. The interviews focus on the refugees' experience with humanitarian organizations and the government policy of their host country. By exploring their memories of Somalia and their relationship to their homeland, as well as their experiences in exile, it becomes evident that the Somalis' personal histories impact on how they negotiate the different forms of assistance that are available, or the lack thereof. Those who have had little control over their own lies in the past continue to have greater difficulty reaching their financial and educational goals, integrating onto South African society, and accessing the rights granted to them by law. Those who historically had some amount of agency continue to do so, despite the disempowering effects of mass assistance programs. In order for governments and organizations to be successful in their mission to assist and resettle refugees, they must have a more complete understanding of the history and cultural norms of assistance of the communities with whom they are working, as well as the realities of the current circumstances. The oral history method, with its ability to account for personal subjectivity, narrative authority, and historical agency, allows for in-depth exploration into the impact of policies created by the external bodies of international aid organizations, national governments, and local organizations at the grassroots level.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationBuyer, M. (2007). <i>Beyond the refugee label : identity and agency among Somali refugees</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Historical Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7790en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationBuyer, Meritt. <i>"Beyond the refugee label : identity and agency among Somali refugees."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Historical Studies, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7790en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationBuyer, M. 2007. Beyond the refugee label : identity and agency among Somali refugees. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Buyer, Meritt AB - As the world refugee population continues to rise, so the debate over how to best assist those who have been displaced intensifies. Humanitarian practices often have a disempowering effect on individuals instead of helping them to become self-sufficient. This problem is compounded by the gap between the realities on the ground and the overarching policies of both governments and organizations. In South Africa, the plethora of social issues, the lack of long-term solutions for refugee resettlement and the unsuccessful implementation of national policies relating to refugees contribute to the xenophobia that has become prevalent across the country. When the xenophobic sentiment turns violent, the Somali community has been targeted in the most extreme ways. Using the oral history methodology, this study draws on 17 life story interviews with Somali refugees residing in the Cape Town area. The interviews focus on the refugees' experience with humanitarian organizations and the government policy of their host country. By exploring their memories of Somalia and their relationship to their homeland, as well as their experiences in exile, it becomes evident that the Somalis' personal histories impact on how they negotiate the different forms of assistance that are available, or the lack thereof. Those who have had little control over their own lies in the past continue to have greater difficulty reaching their financial and educational goals, integrating onto South African society, and accessing the rights granted to them by law. Those who historically had some amount of agency continue to do so, despite the disempowering effects of mass assistance programs. In order for governments and organizations to be successful in their mission to assist and resettle refugees, they must have a more complete understanding of the history and cultural norms of assistance of the communities with whom they are working, as well as the realities of the current circumstances. The oral history method, with its ability to account for personal subjectivity, narrative authority, and historical agency, allows for in-depth exploration into the impact of policies created by the external bodies of international aid organizations, national governments, and local organizations at the grassroots level. DA - 2007 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2007 T1 - Beyond the refugee label : identity and agency among Somali refugees TI - Beyond the refugee label : identity and agency among Somali refugees UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7790 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/7790
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationBuyer M. Beyond the refugee label : identity and agency among Somali refugees. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Historical Studies, 2007 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/7790en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Historical Studiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherHistorical Studiesen_ZA
dc.titleBeyond the refugee label : identity and agency among Somali refugeesen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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