Journal Articles

Missing from the picture? Migrant and Refugee Community Organizations' responses to poverty and destitution in Glasgow

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This article discusses the largely under-researched anti-poverty work of Migrant and Refugee Community Organizations (MRCOs) in Glasgow. The role of MRCOs as a source of social capital and critical coping and survival mechanism in exile has received notable attention since the introduction of dispersal policy in 1999. The practices outlined in this article contribute to this growing body of research by presenting examples of collective action developed from within migrant community organizations. The discussion is contextualized by broader ideological and political debates on entitlement and deservedness as they relate to migrants generally and asylum seekers specifically. Whilst offering tangible acts of financial support, MRCO strategies are also driven by social, cultural and political objectives which challenge structural constraints on self-determination. Varied in terms of risk and formality, their collective action is woven through with discourses of solidarity, belonging, resistance and empowerment. The informal nature of much of this work means that it is often missing from the broader picture of anti-poverty action and scholarship. The article concludes with a number of recommendations that suggest ways forward for bringing this action to the attention of academic researchers, practitioners and policy makers with an aim for developing better community-focused research.

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Detail Information

Series Title

Community Development Journal

Call Number

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Publisher

Thousand Oaks : Sage Publications., 2015

Collation

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Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

0010-3802

Classification

NONE

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

Volume 50, Number 3 July 2015, pages 433-447

Subject(s)

Migrant and Refugee Community Organizations (MRCOs
MRCO strategies are also driven by social
Cultural and political objectives
Social capital and critical coping and survival

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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