Leiden University Student Repository

Slijkoord, Annemay (2024)

Why you but not me? How notions of belonging and citizenship influence the reception of Ukrainian and Islamic refugees in the Netherlands.

Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)

This thesis examines the relationship between notions of belonging and citizenship and the reception of Ukrainian and Islamic refugees in the Netherlands. I argue that the perception of different refugees by Dutch people is one key factor contributing to this differential treatment. I will show that the essentialization of culture has helped exclude certain individuals from being a Dutch citizen and, consequently, from belonging to the Netherlands and having a right to Dutch citizenship. This differential treatment underscores the deeply ingrained biases and stereotypes prevalent within Dutch society, highlighting the selective empathy extended towards certain refugee groups based on perceptions of cultural similarity and belonging. Furthermore, I show how other factors, like the geopolitical situation with Russia and the perceived feeling of togetherness with Ukraine because of shared European citizenship, have likely influenced the reception as well.

Ukrainian refugees, refugees, citizenship, belonging, essentialization of culture, European citizenship

Author

Slijkoord, Annemay

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Supervisors

Meerendonk, T. van de

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en