begging in geneva in times of crisis: multi-layered representations of beggars, begging and...
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9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Begging in Geneva in Times of Crisis:
Multi-layered Representations of Beggars,
Begging and Cohabitation in the Public
Space
Annamaria Colombo, Caroline Reynaud, Giada de Coulon
(with the collaboration of Noémie Pala)
University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland
School of Social Work, Fribourg
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Introduction
2007: Political debate on the legality of prohibiting
begging in Geneva (Switzerland)
2008: Restoring of an anti-begging law
A qualitative study (2013-2014): forbidding begging by
law is a strategy for managing the sharing of public
space with beggars
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Context Swiss level: From the year 2000 on,
introduction cantonal or municipal anti-begging
laws.
International level: representations of begging
have changed: if begging was more associated
with homelessness and laziness in the sixties
and seventies, recent legislation seems to
distinguish between “simple” begging (tolerated)
and organized and/or aggressive begging.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Chronology of the Law
2007 01.01 New Penal Code comes into effect in Geneva
06.06 Public declaration: Begging is no longer
prohibited
12.06 Draft Bill: Begging to be repressed
04.09 Draft Bill: Antisocial behaviour
30.11 Bill passed: Begging is once again
prohibited
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Two Research Objectives
To understand how begging has been
constructed as a socio-political problem
and whether the law is legitimized or not
by political actors
To understand how the persons who beg
comprehend the law and how it affects
their practices
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Two Research Objectives
To understand how begging has been
constructed as a socio-political
problem and whether the law is
legitimized or not by political actors
To understand how the persons who beg
comprehend the law and how it affects their
practices.
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Methodology
Ethnomethodology (Garfinkel 1967)
Sociology of Representations (Jodelet 1989)
Based on Parazelli’s analytical grid (2013),
inspired by Karsz’s transdisciplinary approach
(2004):
Cognitive
Reference Points Ethical
Political
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
POPULIST
HUMANIST
LEGALISTIC
Cognitive
reference
points
Begging practised by
foreigners, in particular
by Roma, is presented
as organised, criminal
and causing social
insecurity
Process of ostracising and
discriminating against Roma,
begging as a necessary and
legitimate practice
Political problem and
“in-draught effect”
attracting beggars
Ethical
reference
points
This particular form of
begging (by Roma) is
unacceptable
It is unacceptable to stigmatise
a community
It is unacceptable to
suppress the prohibition
against begging
Political
reference
points
Proposes prohibition,
validated by a rhetoric
of insecurity
Against begging being
prohibited as this will not solve
the problem (pointless,
inefficient), begging is not seen
as being problematic.
Prohibiting begging is
justified by the fact that
it has always been
prohibited
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
POPULIST HUMANIST LEGALISTIC
Cognitive
reference
points
Begging practised by foreigners,
in particular by Roma, is
presented as organised,
criminal and causing social
insecurity
Process of ostracising
and discriminating
against Roma, begging
as a necessary and
legitimate practice
Political problem and
“in-draught effect”
attracting beggars
Ethical
reference
points
This particular form of begging
(by Roma) is unacceptable
It is unacceptable to
stigmatise a community
It is unacceptable to
suppress the prohibition
against begging
Political
reference
points
Proposes prohibition, validated
by a rhetoric of insecurity
Against begging being
prohibited as this will
not solve the problem
(pointless, inefficient),
begging is not seen as
being problematic.
Prohibiting begging is
justified by the fact that
it has always been
prohibited
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Representations of “populist” position
“In addition, I think that we should not confuse things: there is
begging tourism, which is practised by travellers – all those gypsies
who settle in camps just outside our borders, who hold out their
hands by day and, by night, brandish the screwdrivers and crowbars
they use to rob our homes – and then, there are the real beggars,
those who have been moved on as a result of the State Council and
City of Geneva action plan, at least from our territory.” M. Roger Golay (MCG) 30.11.2007, Debate PL 10106A
“(…) these Roma are highly organised and their activities are almost
an industry”. A Commissioner, quoted in the report of the Society and Youth Commission, responsible for
studying the M-576 motion
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
POPULIST HUMANIST LEGALISTIC
Cognitive
reference
points
Begging practised by
foreigners, in particular
by Roma, is presented
as organised, criminal
and causing social
insecurity
Process of ostracising and
discriminating against Roma,
begging as a necessary and
legitimate practice
Political problem and
“in-draught effect”
attracting beggars
Ethical
reference
points
This particular form of
begging (by Roma) is
unacceptable
It is unacceptable to stigmatise a
community
It is unacceptable to
suppress the prohibition
against begging
Political
reference
points
Proposes prohibition,
validated by a rhetoric
of insecurity
Against begging being prohibited
as this will not solve the problem
(pointless, inefficient), begging is
not seen as being problematic.
Prohibiting begging is
justified by the fact that
it has always been
prohibited
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Representations of “humanist” position
“The bilateral negotiations currently underway between Romania
and a number of European countries mean that we cannot go on
ignoring Roma or refuse to accept them as we would any other
citizen of the European Community. Whether we like it or not, their
story has become our story.” Alberto Velasco (S), 13.11.2007 PM 1793.
“With regard to organised begging, which could additionally involve
robbery, the exploitation of children or of handicapped people,
existing legislation on such criminal matters is adequate to deal with
it (…)”.
Mathilde Captyn (Ve), 30.11.2007
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
POPULIST HUMANIST LEGALISTIC
Cognitive
reference points
Begging practised by
foreigners, in
particular by Roma, is
presented as
organised, criminal
and causing social
insecurity
Process of ostracising
and discriminating
against Roma, begging
as a necessary and
legitimate practice
Political problem and “in-
draught effect” attracting
beggars
Ethical
reference points
This particular form of
begging (by Roma) is
unacceptable
It is unacceptable to
stigmatise a community
It is unacceptable to
suppress the prohibition
against begging
Political
reference points
Proposes prohibition,
validated by a rhetoric
of insecurity
Against begging being
prohibited as this will not
solve the problem
(pointless, inefficient),
begging is not seen as
being problematic.
Prohibiting begging is
justified by the fact that it has
always been prohibited
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Representations of “legalistic” position
“90% of these Roma, who may well be victims of migrant smuggling
or of human trafficking, are indeed victims and have not chosen to
make a future in Geneva.” Debate M2073, 8.06.2012
“I believe that it is important not to confuse the sadly problematic
question of the Roma – the sad problematic of the thousands and
thousands of beggars around the world – with this draft bill which
seeks to re-establish this regulation.” Frédéric Hohl (R), 30.11.2007, Debate PL 10106A
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Conclusion
How begging has been constructed as a socio-
political problem:
Begging itself seems to be considered less
problematic than does living with Roma
beggars
Roma beggars are often associated with
some forms of begging presented as
scandalous
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Conclusion
Prohibition has been reintroduced because of:
The importance of sending a clear message
with regard to the feeling of general insecurity
Significance of public safety concerns
Sending a clear message
“In-draught” effect considered as a threat
Reporting of public space’s increased use by
communities known as Roma, who are visible
and identifiable
9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Conclusion
Begging has been associated with
dangerous, criminal activity carried out by
foreign communities seemingly distant from
Council members’ normative references.
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