Displacement Governance and the Illusion of Integration

Book excerpt: There is a poetic convergence between the struggles of people on the move and people in the peripheries of power, as they may collectively envision alternative forms of coexistence and fight together for fundamental rights and a dignified life. The emergence of fresh perspectives on solidarity from local communities across the board can become the driving force behind a transformative movement of the people. Examples of small yet impactful acts of solidarity in the northern Mediterranean region illustrate how migration fuels social change, leading to the alteration of established norms. These examples further challenge the dominant populist narrative of migration, and integration into mainstream society as the only viable solution. The recent influx of migrant arrivals in Europe challenges established paradigms, rekindling discussions on human rights and democracy regarding the treatment of people on the move and their experiences after arriving in a new location. Despite dominant nation-state narratives and inadequate institutional approaches to displacement, narratives of solidarity among local communities have emerged transcending borders, shedding light on the class, race, and gender-based dimensions of migration. In this book, Hakan Shearer Demir examines how displacement and governance influence the meaning of what it means to be "local," as it is constantly reshaped by the diverse experiences, cultural norms, and the connections of newcomers to places, people, and stories in the northern Mediterranean region. Through his Displacement Triggered Community Co-Construction Framework (CCF), Shearer Demir presents an alternative approach that combines meta-integration and municipalist principles, while taking on patriarchy and hierarchies. The CCF offers a potential pathway to establishing a community of equals that prioritizes meeting essential human needs and upholding human dignity. It is a groundbreaking approach to one of the burning questions of our time. Shearer Demir’s book serves as a valuable source for professionals, practitioners, and academics working in the field of displacement, integration, and governance.