Introduction

This chapter serves as an introduction to the themes and concepts that will be explored throughout the book. I begin with the ethnographic vignette that describes the movement of migrants from southern to northern Europe before the borders were sealed in 2016. This vignette aims to provide the reader with a better understanding of the modes of transportation, geography of the route and the conditions of the journey. After I discuss the socio-political context of the period during which the ethnographic research was conducted. This contextual information helps the reader understand the larger social and political forces at play during the time of the research. Next, I present several key concepts that will be discussed throughout the book, including liminality, stuckedness, waiting and hope. Finally, I provide an overview of the chapters in the book.