Aarhus is Denmark’s second largest city with a population of 336,411. The Refugees in Towns Aarhus case report looks at the integration experience of refugees within a Nordic welfare state. On the one hand, the welfare state provides services and support that may be unimaginable in many other urban displacement settings. On the other hand, the national debates and policies on refugees and immigration have become focused on restricting access and conflation of debates on refugees and radicalization. The report is written by a long-time Aarhus resident and new Syrian refugee arrival.
Jalalabad, Afghanistan
This case report explores the challenges faced by Afghan refugees who had been living in Pakistan and returned to Nangarhar Province of Afghanistan. It explores the returnees’ experience of reintegration back into their home country and focuses on their access to land, as land ownership is the main pillar of the Afghan government’s official reintegration strategy. Further, it is nearly impossible to have status at the neighborhood level, to find work, or to become socially respected without owning land. This report gives voice to returnees, and is based on the author’s own experiences as a resident and professional researcher of Nangarhar Province.
Cairo, Egypt
The Cairo report shares the experiences of Egypt’s largely overlooked sub-Saharan African refugee integration, as well as their impact on the several neighborhoods in the city. With next to no meaningful opportunities for local integration, minimal assistance from the international community, and no path to citizenship, future prospects for refugees in Cairo are dim. Yet, despite enduring high levels of racist and xenophobic harassment, abuse, and violence, Cairo’s refugees make the most out of a difficult situation and persevere to develop and sustain their communities. The report draws on the author’s years of experience as a case worker for refugees in Cairo, and benefits from the viewpoints of two research assistants who are themselves sub-Saharan African refugees living in Cairo.
Austin, Texas, USA
The Austin case report looks at Syrian refugees living in Austin, and how their wellbeing impacts their experiences with integration. The author, herself a Syrian migrant to the US, shares a depth of experience with shifting identity, belonging, and ability to live and thrive in Austin, documenting everything from learning cultural norms and mannerisms to driving and understanding street signs.
Augusta, Maine, USA
The Augusta report explores primarily Middle Eastern refugees in Augusta who arrived as “secondary” migrants. They have experienced a range of challenges and successes integrating with “Old Mainer” society, facing a pervasive attitude of scarcity among residents whose ancestors arrived as French Canadian economic migrants generations ago. After describing the integration challenges with Augusta’s public services, housing market, and cultural barriers, the report offers a glimmer of hope with “World to Table,” a “culinary diplomacy” venue started by the authors.