2012 PhD-Conference Theme:Transnational migration and global development

  Bergen, 20- 22 June 2012

Motivations for, and modes of migration are diverse and often overlapping: from voluntary labor migration to family migration to forced migration due to climate change, lack of food security, war, or ethnic and religious conflict. Common to all forms of migration, though, is that the economic, social and cultural relations in both sending and destination countries are altered as a result. How does this happen, and what is the impact for both the individuals involved and society at large? We believe that a transnational lens on these questions will help us better understand their dynamics and effects. This means, concretely, that we aim to transcend typical divides between development researchers specializing on countries in the South and migration researchers specializing on countries in the North. A transnational lens on migration means that we (in studies of migrants and/or the effects of immigration and emigration in specific localities, regions or countries) are sensitive to how transnational flows of money, culture and social relations influence migrants' adaptation and imagination as well as states' and regions' political regulation of migration across the South - North divide. Transnational networks span countries of settlement and emigration, Diasporas, civil society organizations, social movements and NGOs working with migrants and refugees' rights, and not least communities of belonging defined by religion, gender, ethnicity, nationality and race. This conference focuses on four interdisciplinary themes that may be researched from a range of different disciplines and geographical departures.

1) Political mobilization and collective action

2) Segregated zones of living: refugee camps, asylum centers, ghettos

3) Rhetoric of exclusion

4) Precarious lives: The law of states versus the law of peoples.

 

PhD scholars from all over the world will be invited to send in abstracts and up to 40 participants will be chosen to present their papers during the conference. Call for abstracts is now open online through the online application http://bsrs.no/application-form/ . Preliminary programme will be advertised on this web site as soon as it is ready.