The Hague can deny their existence, Amsterdam cannot and will not
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2025-06-23
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en
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This thesis investigates the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants in Amsterdam during the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of civil society in addressing their needs. The pandemic exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, including job loss, homelessness, and exclusion from state support due to fear of deportation. In response, a dynamic network of NGOs, individuals, and public institutions emerged to provide essential services such as food, shelter, and legal aid. Using assemblage theory, the study conceptualizes this network as a fluid and adaptive civil society assemblage, shaped by shifting political and social pressures. The analysis reveals a tension between exclusionary national immigration policies, exercising necropolitical control, and the biopolitical responsibilities assumed by municipal actors like the Municipality of Amsterdam. This tension fosters strategic alliances between local governments and NGOs, highlighting the potential of decentralized, networked responses to humanitarian crises. The study also emphasizes the agency of undocumented immigrants in building support structures and advocating for their rights, shifting the focus from state-centric narratives of control to everyday practices of resilience. By situating these dynamics within broader theoretical frameworks, the research contributes to understanding how local actors mitigate systemic exclusion and explores the sustainability of such interventions amid ongoing institutional constraints.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen