REJECTED ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN NORWAY, RETURN CENTRES AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS PROMOTING RETURN

REJECTED ASYLUM-SEEKERS IN NORWAY, RETURN CENTRES AND OTHER ARRANGEMENTS PROMOTING RETURN This article focuses on the positioning of rejected asylum-seekers and on perceptions of departure centres and other arrangements promoting return. According to the Norwegian authorities the standard in return centres has to be modest, so that in combination with other return-related measures asylum-seekers should be motivated to return. It is shown in this article that the low standard of living in return centres does not enhance return. Instead, most asylum-seekers avoid these accommodations. For those who have made use of the return centres, life there has contributed primarily to them breaking down. The high level of conflicts eventually culminated in the residents revolting and in the destruction of the centres. It is maintained that rejected asylum-seekers and the Norwegian authorities have conflicting goals and interests that hamper return-related work. The conflict lies in the fact that rejected asylum-seekers do not give up the goal of staying in Norway, while the authorities try to return them either voluntarily or by coercion. The asylum-seekers' positioning toward the departure centres and other arrangements promoting return are analysed in the light of the aforementioned antagonism and the resources that rejected asylum-seekers mobilize in the conflict with the Norwegian authorities.