Governance, forced migration and welfare

Methodology

The paper discusses EU and UK policy and draws on research on meeting basic needs of forced migrants in Leeds that included interviews with 23 forced migrants and 11 key respondents involved in the delivery of welfare services.

Key issues

The paper explores the welfare of forced migrants at a supranational [European Union], national and local level. Member states are increasingly keen to deflect the problem of forced migration sideways on to other states. Many European states have looked to separate out and reduce the social rights of forced migrants. The welfare rights of certain forced migrants have been ‘hollowed out’. Devolution of power to individual housing providers has led to variable and sometimes substandard provision. In the absence of state provision non-governmental organisations become key welfare providers. The welfare rights of forced migrants are subject to the dual process of separation and erosion.

Conclusions

Nation states have used supranational and localised networks of governance to deter the entry of unwanted forced migrants and, simultaneously, national governments have reduced or eradicated the welfare rights of forced migrants.