What do borders mean to refugees/asylum seekers and tourists?

By

The criteria for selection of literature

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my dissertation supervisor who has always shown confidence in me. He has offered his patience, remarks, propositions and understanding. Here I would also like to mention my parents who have always believed in me for all my hard work. My family, including my parents, brother and sister has endlessly supported me during my life and academics. This has helped me in making positive decisions for my life. I would also mention my peers and co-workers and appreciate their collaboration and expert advice on every circumstance. I am also grateful towards my University and my Department, the administrators, faculty members and fellow students for their support throughout this study.



DECLARATION

I declare that the material stated in this dissertation/thesis is original and does not present work of any other scholar or research study conducted in the past. Material in this study is not partially or completely published elsewhere and collected only for the purpose of this study. I also acknowledge that I have complete understanding of the requirements, guidelines, regulations and procedures of the University with respect to the endowment of higher education degree and my research work. Here, I would also like to take the opportunity to declare that I have almost exclusively followed the requirements, guidelines, regulations and procedures of the University regarding this research study.

ABSTRACT

Borders are typically treated as fundamental components of the modern world of sovereign territorial states, demarcating where the territory of one state begins and another ends. However, borders are not simply lines on the map that serve to bound territories but are also processes that exist in socio-cultural action and discourses. Therefore, this qualitative study focuses on analysing the meaning borders to refugees/asylum seekers and tourists. Asylum seekers are people who come into the country as refugees.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Introduction1

Research Question2

Research Objectives2

Organisation of the Chapters3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Borders and Their Purpose5

History of Immigration in UK6

Refugees and Asylum Seekers7

International Laws Regarding Refugees and Asylum Seekers8

Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Before and after September 11th9

Travellers and Tourists12

Reason for Travels and Tourism13

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY15

Research Question15

Research Objectives16

Research Method16

Qualitative Research16

Data Collection17

Sampling18

Literature selection criteria19

Additional Online searches20

Time Line of the Dissertation20

Ethical Concerns22

Research Limitations23

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS25

Asylum seekers in the West25

Muslim Refugees after September, 11th, 200126

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION30

REFERENCES32

APPENDIX35

Appendix A: Participant Consent form35

Appendix B: Interview Questions from Refugees/Asylum Seekers36

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction

“The activity of drawing boundaries, while in many cases implicit and even invisible, is the constitutive process of territorialisation.” (Brighenti 2010, 61)

Borders are typically treated as fundamental components of the modern world of sovereign territorial states, demarcating where the territory of one state begins and another ends. However, borders are not simply lines on the map that serve to bound territories but are also “processes that exist in socio-cultural action and discourses” (Paasi 1999). Importantly, and however counter-intuitive this may seem at first glance, a case can be made that borders are not only located at territorial ...