Excluding the Unwanted: Dealing with Foreign-National Offenders in Switzerland

Author(s) : Christin Achermann

Source : https://libra.unine.ch/handle/123456789/6973

Abstract:

Since the beginning of this century and following a long period of scholarly silence on the topic of the deportation of foreign nationals, we are witnessing a growing number of publications dealing with this subject from different angles (e.g. Anderson et al. 2011; Drotbohm 2011; de Genova/Peutz 2010; Ellermann 2009; Walters 2002). Most authors characterize deportation as a measure of exclusion. Hardly any, however, trouble to analyse the exact meaning of “exclusion” more precisely and question to what extent processes related to deportation can be considered as exclusion practices. As opposed to simply attaching the label “exclusion” to such policies and practices, this article argues for a more nuanced analysis which draws on the concept of social closure originally introduced by Max Weber (1968). The chapter’s objective is twofold: It first aims to contribute to the theoretical discussion of the term by introducing a framework that seeks to comprehensively illuminate processes of legal and socially practiced closure directed at foreign nationals. Then it shall apply the presented framework to status-related decisions of the authorities regarding delinquents who are not full legal members of the Swiss nation-state.