Argonauts of West Africa: Unauthorized Migration and Kinship Dynamics in a Changing Europe

Unauthorized African migrants in Europe rely on kinship for mobility, employment, and citizenship, but these relationships can be unreliable and difficult to control. Apostolos Andrikopoulos' ethnographic work in Amsterdam reveals the unseen dynamics of kinship through shared papers, race and gender tensions, and informal networks.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 10 May 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Unauthorized African migrants navigate a complex web of paradoxes as they strive for mobility, employment, and citizenship in Europe. In their pursuit of stability and security, they rely on kinship networks to exchange identity documents, secure assistance, and access citizenship through marriages. These new kinship assemblages are formed and reimagined to adapt to the ever-changing demands of European states. However, the reliability of these relationships is often uncertain, as they are characterized by codependency and unexpected dynamics.

Through in-depth ethnographic work in West African migrant communities in Amsterdam, Apostolos Andrikopoulos unveils the unseen dynamics of kinship. He explores the tensions of race and gender that emerge in mutually beneficial marriages and the vast informal networks of people, information, and documentation that migrants rely on.

In his book, Argonauts of West Africa, Andrikopoulos demonstrates how inequality, exclusionary practices, and the changing policies of often-violent states demand innovative approaches to kinship to successfully navigate complex migration routes. He highlights the resilience and creativity of migrants as they adapt to the challenges they face, forging new alliances and navigating the complexities of transnational migration.

Kinship plays a pivotal role in the lives of unauthorized African migrants as they navigate the treacherous waters of migration. It provides a source of security, stability, and support, but also exposes them to new vulnerabilities and complexities. By examining the paradoxes of kinship in the lives of these migrants, Andrikopoulos sheds light on the intricate web of relationships that shape their experiences and the strategies they employ to survive and thrive in their new environments.

Weight: 324g
Dimension: 152 x 230 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226822624