Study of the Degree of Integration of Refugees in Greece in Relation to Socio-Spatial Aspects

Charalampos Kyriakidis, Chryssy Potsiou and Vasileios Eleftheriou
National Technical University of Athens

Abstract

The paper examines the situation of refugees settled in Greece. It focuses on the examination of how refugees themselves perceive their social condition and how they develop activities to achieve their integration, in case they wish. To approach this subject, an empirical study took place in Karditsa, a medium size Greek city which was selected as a case study. Semi-structured interviews played a focal role in the methodology applied. Narratives of refugees document that integration is related not only to functional and social intercourse but also to housing quality aspects. Such an empirical finding was confirmed by an ordinal regression analysis model. That is crucial as it forces to the admission that housing opportunities may be integrated in the official policy which is usually focuses on serving mainly the vital needs. It is argued that policy may acknowledge refugees as social actors instead of policy objects to facilitate integration in the Greek society. The complexity of the integration process should also be underlined and the role of the various aspects should be clarified and prioritized. Future research can contribute to that topic in order for overall conclusions to be derived, so as for a rational policy to be presented.

Presentation