Oliver’s project analyses social practices of local authorities and NGOs in the field of refugee admission. His project explores whether new rules such as new channels of entrance to social rights and resources are created on a local level and consequently, looks at how public organisations shape social order. Presently, he explores the fieldwork done and interplay between the different actors on the local level and investigates knowledge application processes.
After the first field research in Berlin, Oliver went to Palermo, Italy. During the fieldwork in Palermo, interviews with officials like the mayor of Palermo (Leoluca Orlando) or the head of the Agenzia Sanitaria di Palermo and members of the Police and Carabinieri were carried out. Additionally, members of NGOs were interviewed, such as the president of the Italian Red Cross in Sicily. To gather more data in the field, Oliver witnessed and participated in the landing of about 940 refugees and observed the procedures after the landing, such as the registration process and administration of first aid.
Currently, data are being interpreted and Oliver is preparing for his next research trip to Italy.