Governing Through Waiting: Permanent Temporariness in Dukwi Refugee Camp
Author
Baby, Gloria
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-05-29
Pages
60
Abstract
This thesis examines how “permanent temporariness” operates as a mechanism of refugee governance in the Dukwi refugee camp in Botswana. Using a qualitative case study and drawing on Michel Agier’s concept of humanitarian government and Giorgio Agamben’s theories of the state of exception and “bare life,” it analyzes how institutional structures and policies prolong displacement. Within Botswana’s legal framework, including encampment requirements, the study shows how the camp simultaneously protects and physically constrains residents, placing them in political and social limbo and producing everyday life marked by regulated uncertainty. Through an analysis of lived experiences, it demonstrates that permanent temporariness is embodied in restricted mobility, bureaucratic dependency, interrupted life trajectories, and limited opportunities for economic and social self-determination. At the same time, it highlights how what is framed as emergency relief becomes a form of humanitarian governance, while refugees display resilience and agency that challenge portrayals of camp residents as passive. The thesis argues that Dukwi exemplifies how protracted encampment normalizes indefinite liminality, making permanent temporariness a defining feature of contemporary humanitarian governance.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan “permanent midlertidighed” fungerer som en styringsmekanisme i Dukwi-flygtningelejren i Botswana. Med et kvalitativt casestudie og med udgangspunkt i Michel Agiers begreb om humanitær regeringsførelse og Giorgio Agambens teori om undtagelsestilstanden og “bart liv” analyserer studiet, hvordan institutionelle strukturer og politikker forlænger fordrivelse. Inden for Botswanas lovramme, herunder encampment-kravet, belyser afhandlingen, hvordan lejren på én gang beskytter og fysisk begrænser beboerne, placerer dem i politisk og social limbo og skaber en hverdag præget af reguleret usikkerhed. Gennem analyser af levede erfaringer viser studiet, at permanent midlertidighed kropsliggøres via begrænset mobilitet, bureaukratisk afhængighed, afbrudte livsforløb og begrænsede muligheder for økonomisk og social selvbestemmelse. Samtidig tydeliggør det, at det, der præsenteres som midlertidig nødhjælp, forvandles til en form for humanitær styring, mens flygtninge også udviser handlekraft og resiliens, som udfordrer forestillingen om lejrens beboere som passive. Afhandlingen argumenterer for, at Dukwi illustrerer, hvordan langvarig lejranbringelse normaliserer uendelig liminalitet og gør permanent midlertidighed til et kendetegn ved nutidens humanitære styring.
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