Chr. Michelsen Institute CMI’s Post

Together with excellent Luca Ciabarri, I have guest edited a special issue on 'Fragments of solidarity: the social worlds of African migrants moving northwards' in JEAS, the Journal of Eastern African Studies. It is finally out! Check it out here, along with all the important article contributions: https://lnkd.in/gG_e2QvB. In the introductory article, we provide a framework through which to analyse the experiences and social trajectories of migration from East Africa to North Africa and Europe. On the one side, it explores the systematic relationship between war and mobility, and on the other, it highlights the social worlds generated by such mobility. The article argues that these social worlds represent crucial elements for understanding contemporary (Eastern) African societies and their political dynamics, in relation to (a) the increased relevance of migration diplomacy, (b) the spatial interconnectivity constructed through mobility and (c) the transnational and diasporic spheres that lie at the core of the social and economic reproduction of states and societies in the Horn and more generally in Eastern Africa. We highlight, through these interconnections, the genealogies and transformations of the systems of violence composing the reality of migration in the regions explored, but also the various and interconnected systems of solidarity which, although fragmented and even misused at times, sustain migrants’ trajectories, social projects and resistance. In doing so, the article argues that it is necessary to explore present and historical local understandings and conceptualisations of migration, in relation to solidarity practices, forced migration, migrant smuggling, imaginaries of mobility.

Please join us today in the webinar: Towards a Better Approach to Asylum When: Monday, May 13, 2024 20:00 Explore the gospel's impact on human dignity and migration in this transformative webinar. Inspired by Colossians 3:11, delve into theological foundations, ethical considerations, and policy implications with expert speakers. Register for free to secure your spot. Ideal for social justice advocates, faith leaders, policymakers, activists, and academics. Johannes de Jong underscores a nuanced asylum approach, rooted in universal equality and dignity. It emphasizes tackling root causes of migration, notably conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan exacerbated by regimes in Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. This article urges a reevaluation of European foreign policy, prioritizing human rights and long-term stability over short-term gains. By focusing on the why of migration rather than just the who, it advocates for a more empathetic and effective response to global displacement challenges. You can prepare yourself by reading the blog: here you can read the blog about this webinar: https://lnkd.in/dQBju7j4 https://lnkd.in/ewYxgBfb Johannes de Jong Paul Mills Ruben Alarcon European Christian Political Movement ECPYouth - European Christian Political Youth Jubilee Centre European Parliament European Commission #migration #refugees African Union Economic Summit

Towards a Better Approach to Asylum When: Monday, May 13, 2024 20:00 Explore the gospel's impact on human dignity and migration in this transformative webinar. Inspired by Colossians 3:11, delve into theological foundations, ethical considerations, and policy implications with expert speakers. Register for free to secure your spot. Ideal for social justice advocates, faith leaders, policymakers, activists, and academics. Johannes de Jong underscores a nuanced asylum approach, rooted in universal equality and dignity. It emphasizes tackling root causes of migration, notably conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan exacerbated by regimes in Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan. This article urges a reevaluation of European foreign policy, prioritizing human rights and long-term stability over short-term gains. By focusing on the why of migration rather than just the who, it advocates for a more empathetic and effective response to global displacement challenges. You can prepare yourself by reading the blog: here you can read the blog about this webinar: https://lnkd.in/dQBju7j4 https://lnkd.in/ewYxgBfb

🌍Africa is often perceived by Europe as a place of misery, with its people desperate to migrate. This narrative, fueled by media, scholars, and politicians, simplifies movement to a South-to-North flow, embedding the notion of an "African invasion." 🗣️This policy brief challenges this bias, aiming to equip European journalists with tools to reshape the discourse on African migration. Advocating for change, the paper believes that it represents the first step toward instigating change in other domains, including governments, academia, international organizations, NGOs, and decision-makers themselves. 💡Simultaneously, it contributes to the broader objective of addressing existing prejudices against African migration while also advancing the eradication of EU migration policies that violate human rights. 📝Author: Julia Arenos Karsten ✏️Editor: Beatriz Raichande 🔗Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/en8w3QQg

PROTECT is continuing to publish its results. This time our colleagues at Ljubljana University, Slavko Splichal and Boris Mance, are on the scene with a strong piece of text: "Refugees and (Im)Migrants: (Re)Conceptualizing and (Re)Contextualizing Migration in the Media". The article reveals, among other things, how "migrant" and "refugee" categories are conflated by the media, and how this may affect the international human right to asylum. Abstract: The article analyzes media coverage of migration and refugees from 2015 to 2022 in five selected European countries during the European migration crisis, the adoption of international agreements for their (political) solution, and the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Reporting on migration is found to be primarily shaped by national political context and reflects the most important issues of the time, often portraying migration as a potential threat and invasion. The concepts of “migrant” and “refugee” often overlap in journalistic discourse, which confirms the absence of a clear conceptualization of migration in the media."

I am delighted to announce the publication of my scientific article, written in collaboration with my thesis supervisor from Instituto Universitario de Estudios sobre Migraciones (IUEM), Dr. Yoan Molinero Gerbeau, in the prestigious journal National Identities. If you want to understand the current situation in Haiti and the treatment suffered by Haitians in the diaspora, you absolutely must read this article. And if you want a theoretical framework on identity and violence, this article can give you the parameters you need to do so. So I invite you to draw on this inexhaustible source:  

🌐 Understanding global trends in #migration restrictions demands a closer look at government motivations. 🛑 In our latest blog, Marcus Nicolson dives into the theory of ontological security, highlighting the role of narratives and self-identity in shaping political measures. https://lnkd.in/e2gWWFH5

Earlier this month, I spoke at a very interesting DIIS-CBS seminar on 'Humanitarianism in Crisis?' with awesome researchers Lisa Richey, Antonio De Lauri, Polly Pallister-Wilkins and Ida Marie Savio Vammen. We discussed the legitimacy, temporalities and different kinds of #humanitarianism, including everyday and diaspora practices. Here is a short comment with some of the main points - and a link to the video, if you want to know more. DIIS - Danish Institute for International Studies, Copenhagen Business School https://lnkd.in/d6W-JKmu

I am thrilled to announce that my first journal article has just been published in Nation State: Journal of International Studies! If you're into transnationalism and migration, give it a read here: https://lnkd.in/eHaZ3nw5 #refugees

📢Thrilled to announce the publication of our latest paper in the Journal of Refugee Studies! In collaboration with Anja van Heelsum, we delve into the complex dynamics of how alternating hope and despair shape individuals' responses to risks during their migration journeys. Read the full open-access paper here: https://lnkd.in/dxvakcBV For a deeper dive into our findings, check out my detailed thread on X: https://lnkd.in/dqhbzXQJ