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Abstract
In this study I investigate African Asylum seekers’ perceptions of integration in two receiving countries- Israel and Germany, to enhance our understanding of incorporation regimes and the life experiences of persons within them. The thesis explores experiences of Eritrean and Sudanese Asylum seekers as they navigated migration and integration systems of governance in both countries, with a focus on liminality and agency throughout the process. I utilize a ‘bottom-up’ approach that amplifies asylum seekers’ experiences to enhance our understanding of individuals and groups who are subject to systems of governance. Such a perspective is valuable given that top-down explanations dominate research on migrant reception and integration.
Throughout the thesis I compare between asylum seekers’ experiences in Israel and Germany with regards to feelings of belonging, access to housing, the labor market, education systems, and social services. I draw on 17 interviews conducted between April and October 2022 with three groups: asylum seekers in Germany, asylum seekers in Israel, and ten people who first sought asylum in Israel and later in Germany. These perspectives are new to the field and have not been explored to date.
Research findings paint a complex and nuanced picture of integration and incorporation. While asylum seekers experienced official reception in Germany, that includes state support and access to social services, Germany’s highly bureaucratized system and distinct culture were difficult to navigate and integrate into. In Israel, asylum seekers felt more accepted by the public, yet faced continued rejection and hostile treatment by state authorities. For some who received temporary status, integration into Israeli society felt more feasible, especially due to proximity of their community. Asylum seekers relied on personal and collective agency when facing marginalization, racism, obstacles in their asylum process, or the receiving society.
The thesis adds to a growing line of research that foregrounds migrant perspectives. It shifts the focus of the incorporation regime analysis from a macro-level perspective to micro-level experiences. It thus adds depth of human experience to the analysis of systems and bureaucracies. Most importantly, it explores the experiences of a unique group of African asylum seekers who have experienced asylum regimes in both Israel and Germany. I contend that such views destabilize notions regarding receiving societies by highlighting gaps between official policies and everyday life. Research findings highlight contradictions and intricacies in experiences of incorporation that are increasingly relevant in a 21st century marked by heightened human mobility.
