This thesis investigates the area of tension between the creation of identity, recognition and the relations of integration by examining six young `New Danes´ with refugee backgrounds. All informants have participated in the political campaign #EngangVarJegFlygtning [#OnceIWasARefugee] during the election of last summer. The campaign was a response to the dominating refugee debate focusing on stories of success in relation to occupation and integration of New Danes. This assemblage of six informants is interesting due to two causes: on one side, the group experienced being categorised as non-integratable individuals who were a heavy load to the Danish society both culturally and economically. On the other side, if judged by the economical standards of society, the informants represent a group of highly integrated individuals. The thesis examines how the participants of this group construct their identity in such an area of conflict. It is questioned whether the individuals experience of recognition for instance by close relations and the surrounding environment, and how the totality of these processes might influence different factors relevant for a successful integration.
The theoretical foundation of the thesis is built upon the idea that 1) identity is constructed by the individual through self-narration, 2) identity is constructed - and negotiated - in social environments and, 3) identity is dependent on a number of relevant terms of recognition. To explore these areas, the `life historical interview´ is used as a methodological tool, which is discussed in the chapter of Methods.
Three main results are highlighted in the chapter of Analysis. Firstly, all informants construct steady identities through progressive structures of narration, particularly in relation to their history of education and occupation. Secondly, the informants express their identity more vaguely when it comes to cultural and ethnical relations. Finally, the life stories of the informants are coloured by variable degrees of negative relations of recognition, in particularly degrading experiences caused by the political discourse on refugees and immigrants.
The thesis discusses the relevance of these results according to the processes of integration and sums up a number of methodological and analytical sources of errors.