Navigating (In)security and Belonging: Refugee Experiences in Ferrara

Abstract

This dissertation explores the dynamics between refugees and cities through three papers that examine refugees’ precarious journey toward establishing a home and the challenges of accountability within the refugee reception system. Focusing on Ferrara's accoglienza diffusa model of dispersed reception, this research is enriched through collaborations with local social cooperatives (SCs) and nonprofit organizations (NPOs). The first two papers delve into refugees' perceptions of insecurity, community-building efforts, and the processes of homemaking in temporary living conditions. These studies critically assess how urban policies and dominant narratives shape refugees’ interactions with the city and their ability to establish a sense of belonging. Using participatory action research, including video ethnography and interviews, the research amplifies marginalized refugee voices, highlighting their resilience and efforts to navigate and challenge dominant migration discourses that link refugees with insecurity and crime. The third paper shifts to the structural dimension of accountability within the refugee reception system. It examines how SCs balance upward accountability to funders and downward accountability to refugees. Through a mixed-methods approach, the paper investigates the experiences of SC staff and stakeholders, providing insights into the complexities of managing accountability within a hybrid nonprofit sector that merges social, public, and market-driven objectives. Together, these papers bridge individual and systemic perspectives, contributing to academic and policy discussions on forced displacement, urban inclusion, and stakeholder accountability. The dissertation offers actionable insights for creating more inclusive urban environments and improving refugee integration. By centering the lived experiences of refugees, this research advocates for policies that promote greater urban equity, focusing on gender, socio-economic marginalization, and the complexities of displacement. The findings underscore the importance of integrating refugee voices in urban planning and the design of reception systems that truly support their integration.