Who is a refugee? Reflections on social classifications and individual consequences

“Refugee” is not a set category expressing a universal and timeless definition. Instead, it is a relational one reflecting the outcome of social negotiations. The methodical reflections on social classifications and individual consequences emphasize the logic of institutional categories of immigration policies and the international refugee regime. To develop a deeper understanding of forced migration, we have to ask who is a “refugee” and who not and by what classification process. National policy has its own procedures for refusing or granting asylum. These procedures try to verify whether a migrant fits the official definition of a person considered a refugee. The article uses Germany to exemplify these measures. Qualitative research is employed to show that these procedures have a strong influence on refugees’ experiences.