Crafting Space: The Role of Spatial Practices in Managing Refugee Camps

Abstract

In this paper we explore how refugee camps as specific forms of organizing are actually managed. Based on a contrasting, ethnographic case study of two refugee camps – Oreokastro, Greece and Imvepi, Uganda – we explain how the enactment and crafting of the physical space is fundamental for dealing with the challenges of operating in dynamically emerging refugee camps. Unpacking the managerial practices of aid organizations, we identify three different forms of spatial control: authoritarian, adaptive and collaborative which are enacted through physical or visual boundary setting practices. Our findings shed new light on the importance of enacting and managing space and contribute to our understanding of managing refugee camps in at least three ways: First, we increase our understanding how space is enacted dynamically, second we argue that spheres of influence and spheres of activities can be distinguished through specific spatial practices and third we show that refugee camps are not necessarily total institutions but instead the nature of the camps depends on the way space is actually managed.