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PRODID:talks.ox.ac.uk
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SUMMARY:The infra-politics of sub-Saharan migrations in Morocco: from spat
 ial dispersal to resistance in refuge-cities - Sofia El Arabi (Université
  Paris-Saclay)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20250225T140000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20250225T150000Z
UID:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/5a3f8832-e880-43cd-b9c5-b47306c08736/
DESCRIPTION:This presentation offers a renewed perspective on sub-Saharan 
 migratory dynamics through the lens of migration policies\, migrants' live
 d experiences\, and struggles within the Moroccan context. Under the geopo
 litical influence of the European Union\, Morocco has gradually transforme
 d into a Mediterranean laboratory for the European externalization of bord
 er control practices\, which it has adopted as a demonstration of goodwill
  in combating irregular migration (El Qadim\, 2010). The paper examines th
 e biopolitical process of "spatial dispersal\," coupled with that of borde
 ring\, by analyzing the spatial division of labour dynamics that generate 
 border spaces and zones of forced relocation for migrants. These processes
  shed light on mechanisms of invisibilization and illegalization of sub-Sa
 haran migrations (Scheel\, 2015)\, producing "border bodies" (Mbembe\, 202
 0) and reinforcing the thickness of Euro-Moroccan borders. To this end\, w
 e draw on our participatory action research\, conducted between 2017 and 2
 021\, with a sample of 215 migrants dispersed by Moroccan authorities from
  northern border cities to interior and southern Moroccan cities. We adopt
 ed an immersive ethnographic approach in emblematic sites of spatial const
 raints\, particularly encampment spaces.\n\nThrough the prism of infra-pol
 itics (C. Scott\, 1992)\, we highlight underground resistance and the emer
 ging logic of local solidarity in the refuge cities of Tiznit (South) and 
 Taza (Northeast). We explore how these solidarity mechanisms unfold throug
 h the actions of territorial intermediary bodies\, which compensate for th
 e inadequacies of institutional reception systems. Ultimately\, we shed li
 ght on the local governance of sub-Saharan migrations and the resulting lo
 cal turn\, where city diplomacy (Kihlgren Grandi\, 2020) combines with a n
 ew geography of hospitality. This analysis\, which deconstructs dominant s
 ecuritarian discourses\, pays particular attention to migrants' claims and
  agency\, expressed through tactics aimed at recoding instruments of gover
 nability and depoliticization of migration.\nSpeakers:\nSofia El Arabi (Un
 iversité Paris-Saclay)
LOCATION:Online only
TZID:Europe/London
URL:https://talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/id/5a3f8832-e880-43cd-b9c5-b47306c08736/
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DESCRIPTION:Talk:The infra-politics of sub-Saharan migrations in Morocco: 
 from spatial dispersal to resistance in refuge-cities - Sofia El Arabi (Un
 iversité Paris-Saclay)
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