The asylum–child welfare paradox: unaccompanied minors in Austria

Abstract

Existing research shows that right-wing populist imaginaries and discourses on “bogus asylum seekers” mobilise feelings of fear and panic and serve to legitimise increasingly restrictive asylum policies in Europe. In light of this ongoing development, this paper addresses a more intrinsic and structural aspect of asylum, which requires balancing the inclusion and exclusion of persecuted third-country nationals. This paradox is most evident with unaccompanied minors who are caught between state norms and practices that are both exclusionary and repressive (asylum) and inclusive and caring (child welfare). In order to tackle this dilemma, we explore how the asylum–child welfare paradox is organised and formalised by the state and how it affects unaccompanied minors. Based on interviews with unaccompanied minors in Austria and experts who work with them, the findings show that child and youth welfare norms and practices that are formalised as part of the asylum procedure improve unaccompanied minors’ living conditions without dismantling asylum norms and practices of surveillance, conditionality, and scarcity. Judging by their simultaneous implementation, the state preserves and reinforces exclusionary and repressive asylum norms not despite but through child welfare norms and practices.

Waiting in the Austrian asylum system: The well‐being of asylum‐seeking children in a phase of liminality

“…A growing body of literature focuses on asylum‐seeking children (Bhabha, 2014; Bhabha et al, 2018; Glawischnig, 2018; Pruitt, 2021) and pays particularly attention to unaccompanied minors (Alemi & James, 2019; Bassermann & Spiegelfeld, 2018; Clayton et al, 2019; Edlins & Larrison, 2020; Kanics et al, 2010; Koppenberg, 2014; Sedmak et al, 2018; Zschirnt, 2011). This includes some existing research for Austria (Dursun & Sauer, 2018, 2021), yet there is scarce literature about asylum‐seeking children who arrive with their families. The existing literature primarily focuses on government practices, limited access to services, social welfare practices and family psychosocial problems (Giner, 2007; Newbigging & Thomas, 2011; Sime & Fox, 2015; Wiegersma et al, 2011).…”

Narrating Paradox Affects: Unaccompanied Minor Asylum-Seekers in Austria

“…5 Based on qualitative interviews conducted with unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in Austria, we study their accounts of themselves, their experiences, and prospects; and, in doing so, we take an affecttheoretical perspective that pays close attention to the role emotions and feelings play in the constitution of these narratives. Building on our previous work, we take as a starting point the 'asylum-child welfare paradox', 6 describing unaccompanied minors' situatedness in two significantly different national policy regimes in Austria: the repressive asylum regime which grants migrants only limited social rights; and the more caring and inclusive child welfare regime based on international regulations and (to some extent) takes care of the best interest of the child. Yet, this paradox turns unaccompanied refugee minors into second-class children, as their migration status often undermines the efforts to care for their needs.…”