Begging in Geneva in Times of Crisis: Multi-layered Representations of Beggars, Begging and...

9th European Research Conference

Homelessness in Times of Crisis

Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014

Begging in Geneva in Times of Crisis:

Multi-layered Representations of Beggars,

Begging and Cohabitation in the Public

Space

Annamaria Colombo, Caroline Reynaud, Giada de Coulon

(with the collaboration of Noémie Pala)

University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland

School of Social Work, Fribourg




Introduction

2007: Political debate on the legality of prohibiting

begging in Geneva (Switzerland)

2008: Restoring of an anti-begging law

A qualitative study (2013-2014): forbidding begging by

law is a strategy for managing the sharing of public

space with beggars




Context Swiss level: From the year 2000 on,

introduction cantonal or municipal anti-begging

laws.

International level: representations of begging

have changed: if begging was more associated

with homelessness and laziness in the sixties

and seventies, recent legislation seems to

distinguish between “simple” begging (tolerated)

and organized and/or aggressive begging.




Chronology of the Law

2007 01.01 New Penal Code comes into effect in Geneva

06.06 Public declaration: Begging is no longer

prohibited

12.06 Draft Bill: Begging to be repressed

04.09 Draft Bill: Antisocial behaviour

30.11 Bill passed: Begging is once again

prohibited




Two Research Objectives

To understand how begging has been

constructed as a socio-political problem

and whether the law is legitimized or not

by political actors

To understand how the persons who beg

comprehend the law and how it affects

their practices




Two Research Objectives

To understand how begging has been

constructed as a socio-political

problem and whether the law is

legitimized or not by political actors

To understand how the persons who beg

comprehend the law and how it affects their

practices.




Methodology

Ethnomethodology (Garfinkel 1967)

Sociology of Representations (Jodelet 1989)

Based on Parazelli’s analytical grid (2013),

inspired by Karsz’s transdisciplinary approach

(2004):

Cognitive

Reference Points Ethical

Political




POPULIST

HUMANIST

LEGALISTIC

Cognitive

reference

points

Begging practised by

foreigners, in particular

by Roma, is presented

as organised, criminal

and causing social

insecurity

Process of ostracising and

discriminating against Roma,

begging as a necessary and

legitimate practice

Political problem and

“in-draught effect”

attracting beggars

Ethical

reference

points

This particular form of

begging (by Roma) is

unacceptable

It is unacceptable to stigmatise

a community

It is unacceptable to

suppress the prohibition

against begging

Political

reference

points

Proposes prohibition,

validated by a rhetoric

of insecurity

Against begging being

prohibited as this will not solve

the problem (pointless,

inefficient), begging is not seen

as being problematic.

Prohibiting begging is

justified by the fact that

it has always been

prohibited




POPULIST HUMANIST LEGALISTIC

Cognitive

reference

points

Begging practised by foreigners,

in particular by Roma, is

presented as organised,

criminal and causing social

insecurity

Process of ostracising

and discriminating

against Roma, begging

as a necessary and

legitimate practice



attracting beggars

Ethical

reference

points

This particular form of begging

(by Roma) is unacceptable


stigmatise a community



against begging

Political

reference

points

Proposes prohibition, validated

by a rhetoric of insecurity


prohibited as this will

not solve the problem

(pointless, inefficient),

begging is not seen as

being problematic.



it has always been

prohibited




Representations of “populist” position

“In addition, I think that we should not confuse things: there is

begging tourism, which is practised by travellers – all those gypsies

who settle in camps just outside our borders, who hold out their

hands by day and, by night, brandish the screwdrivers and crowbars

they use to rob our homes – and then, there are the real beggars,

those who have been moved on as a result of the State Council and

City of Geneva action plan, at least from our territory.” M. Roger Golay (MCG) 30.11.2007, Debate PL 10106A

“(…) these Roma are highly organised and their activities are almost

an industry”. A Commissioner, quoted in the report of the Society and Youth Commission, responsible for

studying the M-576 motion





Cognitive

reference

points


foreigners, in particular

by Roma, is presented

as organised, criminal

and causing social

insecurity

Process of ostracising and

discriminating against Roma,

begging as a necessary and

legitimate practice



attracting beggars

Ethical

reference

points



unacceptable

It is unacceptable to stigmatise a

community



against begging

Political

reference

points



of insecurity

Against begging being prohibited

as this will not solve the problem

(pointless, inefficient), begging is

not seen as being problematic.



it has always been

prohibited




Representations of “humanist” position

“The bilateral negotiations currently underway between Romania

and a number of European countries mean that we cannot go on

ignoring Roma or refuse to accept them as we would any other

citizen of the European Community. Whether we like it or not, their

story has become our story.” Alberto Velasco (S), 13.11.2007 PM 1793.

“With regard to organised begging, which could additionally involve

robbery, the exploitation of children or of handicapped people,

existing legislation on such criminal matters is adequate to deal with

it (…)”.

Mathilde Captyn (Ve), 30.11.2007





Cognitive

reference points


foreigners, in

particular by Roma, is

presented as

organised, criminal

and causing social

insecurity

Process of ostracising

and discriminating

against Roma, begging

as a necessary and

legitimate practice

Political problem and “in-

draught effect” attracting

beggars

Ethical

reference points



unacceptable


stigmatise a community



against begging

Political

reference points



of insecurity


prohibited as this will not

solve the problem

(pointless, inefficient),

begging is not seen as

being problematic.


justified by the fact that it has

always been prohibited




Representations of “legalistic” position

“90% of these Roma, who may well be victims of migrant smuggling

or of human trafficking, are indeed victims and have not chosen to

make a future in Geneva.” Debate M2073, 8.06.2012

“I believe that it is important not to confuse the sadly problematic

question of the Roma – the sad problematic of the thousands and

thousands of beggars around the world – with this draft bill which

seeks to re-establish this regulation.” Frédéric Hohl (R), 30.11.2007, Debate PL 10106A




Conclusion

How begging has been constructed as a socio-

political problem:

Begging itself seems to be considered less

problematic than does living with Roma

beggars

Roma beggars are often associated with

some forms of begging presented as

scandalous




Conclusion

Prohibition has been reintroduced because of:

The importance of sending a clear message

with regard to the feeling of general insecurity

Significance of public safety concerns

Sending a clear message

“In-draught” effect considered as a threat

Reporting of public space’s increased use by

communities known as Roma, who are visible

and identifiable




Conclusion

Begging has been associated with

dangerous, criminal activity carried out by

foreign communities seemingly distant from

Council members’ normative references.

Begging in Geneva in Times of Crisis: Multi-layered Representations of Beggars, Begging and...

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