The Double-Edged Swords of Hope and Hopelessness: Ethnographic Insights Among Deportable Refugees in Sweden

This article explores the interplay between hope and hopelessness among refugees in Sweden who have been denied asylum and live under the threat of deportation. Based on ethnographic research conducted in a rural municipality in central Sweden (2017–2018), it examines how individuals oscillate between hope and hopelessness under conditions of social and legal precarity, shaping both their thoughts and actions. While hope is often associated with agency and resilience, this study highlights its ambivalent nature—it can sustain individuals in difficult situations but also trap them in cycles of waiting and vulnerability. Hope can be painful when repeatedly dashed, and even used as a means of manipulation. Conversely, hopelessness is not merely a state of passivity or resignation but can foster decisive action and drive change at both personal and societal levels. Recognizing the dual nature of both hope and hopelessness, as well as their interconnection, is essential for understanding the lived experiences of deportable refugees and for developing more humane approaches to migration governance and reception. Building on the findings, the article contributes to the affective turn within the social sciences by proposing a complement to Miyazaki’s method of hope (2004) by acknowledging the productive aspects of hopelessness.