Narrative exchange and intercultural encounter between forced migrants and receiving communities in Torino (Italy) and Edinburgh (Scotland)

Aldegheri, Esa (2022) Narrative exchange and intercultural encounter between forced migrants and receiving communities in Torino (Italy) and Edinburgh (Scotland). PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis undertakes a comparative study of community education projects in Torino (Italy) and Edinburgh (Scotland) which use narrative exchange to facilitate intercultural encounter between people who are forced migrants and those from receiving communities. It investigates the effectiveness of narrative exchange as a tool for addressing, interpreting and challenging the dynamics of intercultural encounter and community integration in contemporary urban contexts.

The thesis presents a unique interdisciplinary contribution to academic debates around migration and integration, drawing on insights from social science combined with a narrative inquiry methodology and a deliberately narrative form. It addresses the epistemological tension between the qualitative, narrative-based work and knowledge embodied in community education projects and the more quantitative requirements of funding criteria which must be met to continue such work. Furthermore, it offers a series of practice-based findings and learnings intended as a resource of practical use in the field of community education.

Taking ‘journey’ as a founding metaphor, the thesis is cast in the form of a travel narrative moving through the phases of a PhD, the lives and stories of people and projects encountered, and processes of learning, unlearning and relearning. It is presented as a journey narrated through the voice of the researcher as traveller or wayfarer. The thesis employs qualitative research methods and is conducted multilingually, with maps and poetry occurring and recurring. Material is gathered through conversations and participant observation. Narrative inquiry is the overarching research methodology, employed to analyse material gathered and identify which types of narrative exchange can facilitate dialogical intercultural encounter in urban migratory contexts.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Supported by an ESRC Scholarship.
• Keywords: Migration, community education, narrative studies, integration, migration studies.
• Subjects: J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration; L Education > L Education (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Education
• Supervisor's Name: Phipps, Professor Alison, Fassetta, Dr. Giovanna and Askins, Dr. Kye
• Date of Award: 2022
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2022-83148
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 30 Sep 2022 15:50
• Last Modified: 30 Sep 2022 15:50
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.83148
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/83148