Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
6-2026
Document Type
Master's Capstone Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Program
International Migration Studies
Advisor
Robin A. Harper
Keywords
Control, Violence, Extraction, Biometrics, Kenya, Libya, Migrants, Refugees
Abstract
This capstone study examines the relationship between governmental control and the state of exception in refugee camps. This connection is analyzed by examining the control mechanisms employed by the nation state to erode the sovereignty of the individual within a refugee camp space. This study also examines how humanitarian organizations contribute to the perpetuation of the state of exception and how their involvement facilitates further state control. Included in this capstone are two case studies that examine both Libya and Kenya as examples of governmental control on the sovereignty of refugees and migrants. This research contributes to the overall understanding of the mechanisms of control in refugee spaces. It seeks to show how states continually seek to remove the sovereignty of migrants and refugees. It also calls for an examination of states of exception in every form, as they continually remove some people’s rights in order to exclude them from the rights of the nation state.
Recommended Citation
Mans, Kyle L., "The Exception: Refugee Camps and Governmental Control" (2026). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/6725
