Title: An empirical analysis of the organisational structure and processes in a refugee collection centre

Authors: Elisabeth Coutinho

Addresses: Department of Sociology, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Universitätsstraße 15/G4, AT – 8010 Graz, Austria

Abstract: In the last few years, foresight and systemic thinking have become increasingly important. Migration studies need to analyse issues from a holistic perspective as well, which also means including conclusions about the future and learning processes. In order to look at a rather important interface in the context of the migration crisis, an empirical study on the collection centre in Spielfeld at the southern border of Austria was performed. The findings were obtained by conducting expert interviews within a case study. The study indicated four key actors: police, Austrian Armed Forces, Caritas and Austrian Red Cross. Despite the reduction in staff, there are no current plans for the closure of the collection centre. The challenges and problems are divided into three categories: the construction phase, the period of operation and the pressure from asylum seekers, who want to continue their travels. Furthermore, there seems to have occurred a phase of overextension.

Keywords: refugee collection centre; migration crisis; asylum seekers; refugees; organisational structure and processes; case study; relief forces; escape; Europe; Austria; Styria; Spielfeld.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2018.097080

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2018 Vol.13 No.3/4, pp.300 - 314

Received: 15 Sep 2017
Accepted: 25 Apr 2018
Published online: 18 Dec 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article