Illusions of objectivity: The two functions of country of origin information in asylum assessment

Abstract The article argues that the intertextuality of country origin information (COI) plays a significant part in constructing asylum decisions and therefore lives futures those affected by forced migration. COI is based on reports, which turn are other interviews, or media materials. This makes them intertextual, is, referring to transforming texts. That reports typically include dozens even hundreds pages information, abbreviated order be used few paragraphs decisions. done through recontextualisation, selecting certain parts text reformulating new context. analyses 67 negative first-instance 38 similar sources concept intertextuality. It has two functions decisions, personal general. Personal assess truthfulness applicant’s persecution narrative, whereas general evaluate overall security human rights situation origin. shows though tend present as objective it can easily biased, irrelevant, illogical, creating an illusion objectivity.