Teenagers without land
Author: Soňa Jančurová
Globalization makes some people more mobile. They can settle almost anywhere in the world. Different cultures meet unknown lands. As is the case of Svalbard. Do newcomers have the same rights as long-term residents? What are the differences between an immigrant with and without Norwegian citizenship? Our cultural anthropologist, Zdenka Sokolíčková, talked about her new project.
Zdenka Sokolíčková finished her previous project in Svalbard, where she wanted to find out how its residents live with climate change and globalization. She managed to establish herself in the community and led multiple in-depth interviews with the Longyearbyen locals.
The project was not based on aggregate statistical data but on well-established relationships, which made up a crucial part of the research. As Mrs Sokolíčková met more and more people, she found different areas of interest and possible options for further exploration. Svalbard is part of the Kingdom of Norway but with a specific status, and some of the Norwegian laws do not apply there.
It is a place where around 58 nationalities meet. A visitor can meet Filipinx, Thais, Scandinavians, and others.
There are various reasons why anyone would come to the northernmost part of Europe, very close to the North Pole. One of the possible answers might be economic opportunities to support their families in their home country. Or simply a family reunion. Immigrants are legislatively both at an advantage and at a disadvantage in Svalbard and some major issues stem from the non-citizenship status of the second or third generation.
Let us give you an example: Once a teenager without Norwegian citizenship reaches their 18th birthday, he/she loses health insurance and is obligated to find a job to pay for it by law.
„Fortunately, the National Insurance Scheme has not been a problem for me because I got a job. But we learned at school a year or two ago that when you turn 18, you need a job. If not, you are not included in the National Insurance Scheme because you do not pay taxes, so if you become ill you must pay the full amount, which can cost incredibly much, “ emphasizes a young non-Norwegian adult growing up in Longyearbyen.
An important realization is that not everyone in the classroom has the same rights. It is a topic that “everyone knows about, but nobody has ever done any research to document it,” comments Mrs Sokolíčková.
Photo: Dagmara Wojtanowicz
Some of these people think of Svalbard as their home; they were born there and feel like Norwegians. The state does not recognize them as Norwegian citizens, though.
"Can’t you just go back to your country?" And then I go like: "My country? Which country?"
„There was a guy here who used to say things like: "Can’t you just go back to your country?" And then I go like: "My country? Which country?" I felt Norway was my country! I don’t feel my roots are in Thailand, “ says another non-Norwegian teenager.
Some of those born in Svalbard do not have advanced knowledge of their parent's mother tongue. They no longer know what it´s like to live in Thailand or the Philippines. They may look like „foreigners“ in Svalbard, but they feel like Norwegians. Yet their social status is different.
My task is to map the issue and find out what are the reasons of such problems. I am keen to find out about obstacles, learn the children’s stories, and try to find solutions at some point. Making a change in legislation would be a great achievement. It currently seems like an unrealistic fix, but there is a way to let others know about this issue.
“The aim is to share with the general public, for example by organizing an exhibition that could be a way to spread the word. Let´s hope the media would help and talk about it. And of course, politicians are those who can make a change,” concludes Zdenka Sokolíčková.
Photo: Dagmara Wojtanowicz
Her previous project raised a lot of interest from the general public and reached international significance. The results of the current research topic should be published in a year or so, and the UHK excitedly supports one of our world-renowned scientists.
Mgr. Zdenka Sokolíčková, PhD *1983
- graduated in Theory of Culture at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University, Prague and in Euroculture at the Dutch University of Groningen and Palacký University in Olomouc
- lecturer at the University of Hradec Králové since 2011, guest researcher at the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of Oslo in 2019–2022 and postdoc at the University of Groningen in 2021–2023
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