Suchergebnisse

This thesis explores the political representation of asylum seekers in Ireland through an examination of the policies and practices of migrant NGOs. The rationale for undertaking the study stems from an interest in the way asylum seeker participation is facilitated and a concern that despite the promise of more participatory governance, the inclusion of asylum seekers in political processes remains under-explored. In particular, the research draws on the concepts of deliberation and participation as a guiding framework for the empirical study. Core principles underpinning the theoretical framework are drawn from Iris Marion Young's theory of deliberative democracy. The alignments between deliberative structures and the four tenets of Young's approach namely political equality, inclusion, public reasonableness and publicity are used to evaluate how migrant NGOs politically represent asylum seekers. The methodological approach is twofold. First, the study is anchored in critically investigating understandings and practices of representation and involves nine semi-structured interviews with migrant NGOs. Second, the study explores how asylum seekers understand, experience and participate in representation through conducting two focus groups with asylum seeker participants. Key findings highlight how ineffective representation cannot be limited to the actions of state institutions, but must also attend to how migrant NGOs facilitate participation and activism. The argument constructed from the findings illuminates how the critical scrutiny of the practices of migrant NGOs is necessary in order to re-orient practices of representation to inclusivity, openness, and the facilitation of solidarity across migrant NGOs. As such, the overall contribution demonstrates how poor representative structures inhibit opportunities for asylum seekers to become actively involved and exercise influence in decision-making processes and emphasises the need to promote the long-term consolidation of democratic governance in order to ensure active participation and a strong foundation for deliberation.

Intro -- SOCIAL PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY:THE SEARCH FOR A MINIMUMCOMMON DENOMINATOR INDIFFERENCE -- SOCIAL PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY: THE SEARCH FOR A MINIMUM COMMON DENOMINATOR IN DIFFERENCE -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- CRITIC OF PURE INDIVIDUALISM -- HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL WORK -- MAPPING THE TERRAIN OF A RIGHTS-BASED PERSPECTIVE -- THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND THEEUROPEAN SOCIAL CHARTER -- SOCIETY AS CONNECTEDNESS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES -SPONTANEOUS PROCESSES VERSUS COLLECTIVE ACTION -- Ad a -- Ad b -- HUMAN RIGHTS - A REALIST FRAMEWORK? -- THE CONTRIBUTIONS -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- HUMAN RIGHTS AND THEIR RELEVANCE FORSOCIAL WORK AS THEORY, EDUCATION ANDPRACTICE -- I. THE INTEGRATION OF HUMANRIGHTS IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION -- 1. Human Rights as Additional Diagnostic Category for the Individual andSocietal Description of the Problems and Resources of Social Work Clients asVulnerable Groups -- 2. Human Rights and the Basic Scientific Disciplines of Social Work -- 3. Human Dignity and Human Rights, The Triple Mandate of Social Workand Social Rights -- 4. Actors, Resources, Procedures and Methods -- II. HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE PRACTICE OF SOCIAL WORK -- Human Rights Education in Different Contexts -- Human Rights Practice on the Local and National Level -- Human Rights Practice Projects Abroad - on the International Level -- Human Rights as a Chance for Innovation at Work in the Agency -- Research Studies as Project Base for Activities after Having Accomplishedthe Master Studies -- Getting Acquainted and Dealing with National and International HumanRights Organisations -- REFERENCES -- THE CONSTRUCTION OF 'NON-NATIONALS' IN THE2004 IRISH CITIZENSHIP REFERENDUM:AN INSIGHT FROM A CRITICAL DISCOURSEANALYTICAL PERSPECTIVE -- INTRODUCTION -- DATA,METHODOLOGY AND DISCURSIVE STRATEGIES.