The lack of vitality of a desert is a metaphor for what I argue is a citizenship desert, where the lack of life typical of a geographical and physical desert becomes the lack of rights and protections usually associated with national citizenship.
A citizenship desert is a nonplace for noncitizens, as the ones who may find themselves not belonging, not having the legal, social, and economic protection of a nation.
The characteristics of a citizenship desert as a nonplace are:
1.Being present (corporeal/physical) 2. present (time) 3. present (visibility)
1. A presence that is corporeal, as noncitizens are bodies to be counted, moved, rescued, fed, as less-than citizens;
2. A state-of-now, in the present, as noncitizens have no past and no future;
3. A visibility that makes their presence apparent to see and monitor, yet easily ignored.
A citizenship desert is a nonplace for noncitizens, as the ones who may find themselves not belonging, not having the legal, social, and economic protection of a nation.
The characteristics of a citizenship desert as a nonplace are:
1.Being present (corporeal/physical) 2. present (time) 3. present (visibility)
1. A presence that is corporeal, as noncitizens are bodies to be counted, moved, rescued, fed, as less-than citizens;
2. A state-of-now, in the present, as noncitizens have no past and no future;
3. A visibility that makes their presence apparent to see and monitor, yet easily ignored.
