Ottosson, LisaAngu, PinetehGustafsson, Kristina2024-12-132024-12-132024-09Ottosson, L., Angu, P., Gustafsson, K. 2024, 'Mismanagement and misinterpretations in asylum interviews: Perspectives from South Africa and Sweden', Journal of Refugee Studies, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 785-799, doi : 10.1093/jrs/feae054.0951-6328 (print)1471-6925 (online)10.1093/jrs/feae054http://hdl.handle.net/2263/99996This article explores the interactions between key actors in asylum interviews in South Africa and Sweden. It is based on forty-one interviews with asylum seekers, interpreters, state officials, and legal representatives. The analysis is guided by theories on professional encounters, bureaucratic violence, and interdependence. The result is presented in two themes: the emergence of mismanagement due to repressive policies and cost-cutting measures, and misinterpretation due to poor interpretation services and failure to recognize the hermeneutic aspects of asylum seekers’ claims. These issues lead to mistrust in the asylum system and in each other’s capacities, as key actors fail to take joint responsibility for the interview act and its outcome. The conclusion is that all key actors operate within a destructive process of mistrust, reinforced by an increasingly repressive political framework as its strongest driving force.en© The Author(s) 2024. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.Asylum interviewAsylum seekerInterpreterLegal representativeState officialSwedenSouth Africa (SA)SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsArticle