In her 1996 article in Cultural Anthropology, Liisa Malkki argues that refugees are “speechless emissaries.” Draw from Malkki’s article, lectures, and tutorials to explain this argument. Your explanation should address the following questions:
How do Malkki’s research participants relate to and/or perform refugee identity stereotypes? Be sure to answer this question both from the point of view of the refugees with whom Malkki conducted fieldwork and the refugee administrators whom she met at the end of her fieldwork. (4)
Malkki's research participants, the refugees with whom she conducted fieldwork, often relate to and perform refugee identity stereotypes in complex ways. On one hand, they may feel pressured to conform to the stereotypical image of a helpless victim in order to receive aid and support from humanitarian organizations and host countries. This can be seen in Malkki's discussion of how refugees in her study strategically narrate their experiences of trauma and suffering in order to gain sympathy and resources.
However, Malkki also highlights how refugees do not passively accept these stereotypes but instead actively resist and challenge them. For example, she discusses how some refugees engage in acts of agency and resilience, such as starting businesses or participating in social movements, to assert their autonomy and break free from the victim narrative imposed upon them.
On the other hand, refugee administrators whom Malkki met at the end of her fieldwork also play a role in perpetuating refugee identity stereotypes. These administrators may view refugees as mere statistics or problems to be solved, rather than as individuals with agency and complex identities. This dehumanizing perspective can result in policies and practices that further marginalize and disempower refugees, reinforcing the speechless emissary status that Malkki describes.
Overall, Malkki's argument about refugees as speechless emissaries highlights the power dynamics and complexities inherent in refugee identities. While refugees may be expected to conform to certain stereotypes in order to navigate systems of aid and support, they also actively resist and challenge these stereotypes in order to assert their agency and humanity. Refugee administrators, on the other hand, play a role in perpetuating these stereotypes through their actions and policies.