A1 Journal article (refereed)
Enroling around : Reconfiguring place and space in the wake of a new reception centre in a small rural town (2022)
Välimaa, M., Vähä‐Savo, V., & Hiitola, J. (2022). Enroling around : Reconfiguring place and space in the wake of a new reception centre in a small rural town. Population, Space and Place, Early View. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2623
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Välimaa, Mira; Vähä‐Savo, Valtteri; Hiitola, Johanna
Journal or series: Population, Space and Place
ISSN: 1544-8444
eISSN: 1544-8452
Publication year: 2022
Publication date: 23/10/2022
Volume: Early View
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2623
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access: Channel is not openly available
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/85428
Abstract
The paper examines how a small rural town Kauhava, Finland, is reconfigured in the wake of a reception centre being established. Drawing on the conceptual toolbox of the sociology of associations, we find that regardless of attitudes towards asylum seekers, people springing into action and enroling others leads to the problematisation and intensification of place. This involves turning public and private spaces into contested places. Competing definitions of community and identity emerge. While new identities are configured, new associations and ways of linking actors and places together also take form. The paper examines how the micropolitics of place and belonging are carried out in practice, and what types of mechanisms bring about or prevent new conjunctions and transformations in places. The data consist of interviews in Kauhava with town officials, reception centre volunteers, opponents of the centre and refugees who have stayed in the town.
Keywords: assemblages; refugees; asylum seekers; immigrants; immigration; refugee reception centres; communities (organisations)
Free keywords: assemblage; belonging; contested space; migration; sociology of associations
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2022
Preliminary JUFO rating: 1
