Thesis supervisor: David Guéranger
The thesis project focuses on the various political dimensions of the spatial relegation of precarious forms of housing for exiled people (camps, squats, third places). It is based on the hypothesis that by geographically distancing these informal spaces from the centers of daily life and mobility of citizens, public authorities discourage local engagement. While some supporters withdraw in the face of difficulties, others, fewer in number, manage to maintain their commitment. How can we raise awareness of a cause that has become "invisible"? How can we prolong commitment in spaces of spatial and social relegation? This project aims to analyze the dual social and spatial dimensions of engagement, combining local configurations (geographical, political), the characteristics of engagement structures, and the individual trajectories of volunteers. It is based on multi-sited field surveys in Paris, on the French-British border (Calais), and on the French-Italian border (Briançon). By combining qualitative and quantitative methods, it aims to understand the processes of change in the socio-spatial conditions of engagement with exiled people.
Year of enrollment: 2025
Doctoral school: City, Transport, and Territories – VTT