Places and Spaces of the Others. A German Reception Centre in Public Discourse and Individual Perception

Refugee reception centers, often seen as transient 'non-places,' play a significant role in both public discourse and individual perception of migrants. A study focusing on the Bamberg Reception Centre in Germany, which opened in 2015 during a political crisis over asylum policies, reveals that these centers are not just spaces of transit but also dynamic sites where diverse perceptions, coping strategies, and spatial behaviors emerge. Initially housing predominantly Western Balkan asylum seekers, the center's resident composition became more heterogeneous from 2016 onward. The research highlights the fluid nature of such centers, shaped by legal treatment, discrimination, medical care, schooling, and the short duration of stay, reflecting broader social and individual challenges faced by migrants in receiving countries.

Göler, D. (2019). Places and Spaces of the Others. A German Reception Centre in Public Discourse and Individual Perception. Geographies of Asylum in Europe and the Role of European Localities, 69–91. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25666-1_4