Social disinvestment and vulnerable groups in Europe in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The case of newly arrived immigrants in Flanders,

This report is prepared in the framework of the Europe H2020 project ‘Rebuilding an inclusive, value based Europe of solidarity and trust through social investments’ (RE-InVEST). The project aims to evaluate the social investment strategy of the European Commission implemented in 2013 in response to the social damage of the financial crisis in 2008. The RE-InVEST consortium assesses the social damage of the crisis from human rights and capability based approaches with an eye to those vulnerable groups affected the most by the crisis in the 12 countries (and 13 regions) covered by the consortium. The analyses are carried out by the local partners, who consist of NGOs and/or researchers.

The crisis of 2008 didn’t affected Belgium in the same way as other European countries. Belgium was one of the first countries that linked up again with growth. But this revival was temporarily. From 2012 on, the backlash hit Belgium. Economic growth became negative intensified by higher unemployment rates. This backlash was also translated into electoral choices. A conservative inspired government took form and installed a neoliberal agenda with a lot of austerity measures.

Among vulnerable people in Belgium people with a history of migration tend to be the most exposed. Poverty among them is high, much higher than among native people. Within this group undocumented migrants and newcomers are the most affected, but they are nearly invisible in statistics and official reports. Due to the harsher political climate they feel more than others the impact of the crisis and the anti-crisis measures. The harsher political climate is also translated into more restrictive policies towards people with a history of migration. For this reason the group was identified as particularly affected by the crisis.

The RE-InVEST consortium has jointly developed the PAHRCA-methodology that combines princi­ples of Participatory Action research with Human Rights and Capability Approaches. This qualitative, par­ticipatory research does not generate representative results but rather aims at deepening the understanding of the economic, social, cultural and political impacts of the crisis on the lives of vulnerable people and giving them a voice.

The biographies of Anna and Souma illustrate the marks of the crisis on individual life courses. The situation of Anna was characterised by her struggle to integrate, to have legal papers, to find a decent job, to find a decent house, and a struggle to survive. These struggles have a negative impact on her family life. Life became that expensive that it is very hard to survive with only one family member having a job. She fears the future, life has become harder, and more and more people have to live on the street. Souma’s story reflects the struggle to get legal papers and to be a part of the Belgian society. Without legal papers she’s nothing, has no rights, not even her child. It became harder to search for favours, it takes a lot of energy. It’s unfair, society asks to integrate which I did, but I do not get any chances.

While the biographies exemplify the effects of the crisis for a newcomer with and one without legal papers, the analysis is based on contributions of all participants. A loss of trust can be detected among newcomers. Participants experienced this loss of trust at a general level but also on the personal level. They expressed vividly their distrust or loss of trust in governments and key institutions. There is also a loss in trust in people. They live quite isolated and have no friends. They were afraid that with the recent refugee crisis they will lose again. Some participants express anti-refugee sentiments.

But at the same time they have high levels of gratitude to Belgium and the institutions. They want to ‘give back’ to our society. Their gratitude is a positive stepping stone for their integration. The loss of trust undermines on the long term this stepping stone. These high levels of gratitude also apply to NGO’s and schools. There they find help and support that others, like social institutions, refuse to give. NGO’s and schools strengthen their resilience.

Our analysis confirms the erosion of social rights. This erosion, partly due to disinvestment, partly due to the neo-liberal ideology, has a tremendous impact on newcomers. Their rights are not granted anymore, they have to fight each time for their rights. The access to social protection, income security, jobs, decent housing has diminished. For undocumented migrants the erosion of social rights has an indirect impact: more than ever they are not welcome. Social services and NGO’s are being forbidden to help. As a conse­quence of the erosion of social rights the collective capability has diminished. Their capacity to support, their capacity to choose, their resources have been diminished. The erosion of social rights has real conse­quences for people’s individual capability. They admit that it is too late for them. They can’t make any more plans, choices, progress. The only hope they have is for their children.

In conclusion while the crisis has not hit Belgium as strong as other countries, it has had effects: poverty among people and especially among people with a history of migration has risen. Austerity policies have started from 2012 on and undermined trust in politics and existing institutions. The core idea of the social investment strategy of the European Commission – “investing in people” – has not reached people with a history of migration. On the contrary, newcomers admit the loss of support, the loss of rights, and the loss of freedom. Participants have noticed the development of a culture of distrust and discrimination. They are becoming little people. Little people are not heard, they have no voice. Participants are concerned about rising inequality and increasing visibility of poverty. However, they also ask to invest in little people, because they want to be part of the Belgian society. We wanted to be a part of this society, so give us a chance to be part of it.