Remaking the city from the margins: Sub-Saharan irregular migrants' and refugees' encounters with everyday bordering practices and their production of (counter-)space in the informal economy of Rabat

Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Rabat, this thesis explores the urban experiences of sub- Saharan irregular migrants and refugees within the context of Morocco’s border regime and the national migration policy introduced since 2013. Urban areas have become critical sites where border enforcement mechanisms intersect with everyday life, significantly shaping migrants’ experiences. Migrants navigate an informal economy that presents a dual dynamic of inclusion and exclusion, with structural constraints such as legal barriers on the one hand, and livelihood opportunities on the other. The study draws on participant observation and in-depth interviews with 14 sub-Saharan migrants from West, Central and East Africa, providing rich qualitative data on how they navigate and reshape the city. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, applying theories from different fields such as urban ethnography and critical border studies, offers a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of...Show moreDrawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Rabat, this thesis explores the urban experiences of sub- Saharan irregular migrants and refugees within the context of Morocco’s border regime and the national migration policy introduced since 2013. Urban areas have become critical sites where border enforcement mechanisms intersect with everyday life, significantly shaping migrants’ experiences. Migrants navigate an informal economy that presents a dual dynamic of inclusion and exclusion, with structural constraints such as legal barriers on the one hand, and livelihood opportunities on the other. The study draws on participant observation and in-depth interviews with 14 sub-Saharan migrants from West, Central and East Africa, providing rich qualitative data on how they navigate and reshape the city. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, applying theories from different fields such as urban ethnography and critical border studies, offers a comprehensive understanding of the complexity of migration governance and urban dynamics in Rabat. The research reveals that migrants 1) negotiate repressive bordering practices through subtle everyday strategies in public spaces; 2) create alternative counter-spaces such as underground home-based bars, -restaurants, -clubs and house churches; and 3) engage in practices of solidarity, fostering collective action, new forms of sociality and political agency. These efforts underscore the resilience and agency of migrants amidst social and economic exclusion and the lack of state and humanitarian provisions.Show less

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Remaking the city from the margins: Sub-Saharan irregular migrants' and refugees' encounters with everyday bordering practices and their production of (counter-)space in the informal economy of Rabat