AAC : IMISCOE PhD School « Critical Reflections on Migration Studies, Racism and Discrimination », 24–28 April 2023, Vrije Universiteit Brussel ― DEADLINE : 08/​01/​2023

Presen­ta­tion

Event orga­nized by : Brus­sels Inter­dis­ci­pli­nary Research Centre on Migra­tion and Mino­ri­ties (BIRMM, Vrije Univer­si­teit Brussel), Centre for Ethnic and Migra­tion Studies (CEDEM, Univer­sité de Liège), Centre for the Social Study of Migra­tion and Refu­gees (CESSMIR, Ghent Univer­sity), & The Network on Migra­tion and Global Mobi­lity (Univer­sity of Antwerp)

Dead­line for appli­ca­tion submis­sions : 8th January 2023

Migra­tion studies has, for long, largely ignored the study of racism. Recent calls for the deco­lo­ni­za­tion of the univer­sity and Black Lives Matter 2020 led to the gradual entry of the study of race, racism and colo­nia­lism into the migra­tion studies field. Whilst deve­loped apart in the past, mains­tream migra­tion studies and race critical studies (from post­co­lo­nial, to deco­lo­nial, to critical race studies, Black studies and more) are slowly star­ting to dialogue. This IMISCOE PhD school aims at brin­ging toge­ther PhD resear­chers with expe­rienced scho­lars, acti­vists, prac­ti­tio­ners, and artists to explore how the more mains­tream social sciences on migra­tion, racism and discri­mi­na­tion and race critical studies can learn from each other and (im)possibly inte­grate, and how we can contri­bute to more racial justice.

In this IMISCOE PhD school we will reflect upon how racism and race have been discussed by migra­tion studies, and race critical studies (post­co­lo­nial and deco­lo­nial studies, critical race theo­ries, Black Studies, …) drawing on different epis­te­mo­lo­gies, concep­tua­li­za­tions and theo­ri­za­tions. We will explore the state of the art around the topic of migra­tion, race and racism and discuss different theo­ri­za­tions and metho­do­lo­gical approaches and chal­lenges inclu­ding measu­ring mani­fes­ta­tions of racism and discri­mi­na­tion. We will consider different mani­fes­ta­tions of racism – from the evident to the more elusive, from parti­cular inci­dents to systemic forms – and their conse­quences, at both indi­vi­dual and societal levels. Parti­cular atten­tion will be given to crea­tive metho­do­lo­gical approaches and inno­va­tive theo­re­tical frame­works, as well as to more prag­matic and norma­tive approaches to tackle racism and discrimination.

The PhD school will offer a plat­form for a fruitful inter­dis­ci­pli­nary exchange which will allow PhD resear­chers to develop crea­tive approaches to the study of racism and migra­tion and to develop new insights.

The programme consists of keynote lectures, discus­sions, inter­ac­tive panels with scho­lars, artists, acti­vists and prac­ti­tio­ners and inten­sive feed­back sessions. Each parti­ci­pant will present his or her work and be assi­gned a keynote speaker or local expert for one-on-one feedback.

Tenta­tive Programme 

Day 1 : From expe­riences to concepts : racism and discri­mi­na­tion in migra­tion studies

Intro­duc­tion · Discus­sion on the value of expe­rien­tial know­ledge of racism for art and research with slam poets · Keynotes and discus­sion on the bridge between migra­tion studies and the study of racism and discri­mi­na­tion · Feed­back sessions

Day 2 : Post­co­lo­nial pers­pec­tives to migra­tion and borders

Keynotes and discus­sion on move­ment and borders · Feed­back sessions · Parti­ci­pa­tory work­shop on the deco­lo­ni­za­tion of our research practices

Day 3 : Metho­do­lo­gical chal­lenges to study racism and discrimination 

Keynotes and discus­sion on inno­va­tive and crea­tive methods to study racism and discri­mi­na­tion · Feed­back sessions · Visit to the Migra­tie­Mu­seum­Mi­gra­tion (Molen­beek, Brus­sels) · Deco­lo­nial walk (Brus­sels)

Day 4 : Academic chal­lenges when studying racism

Inter­ac­tive panel on chal­lenges (non-)racialized scho­lars face when studying racism & stra­te­gies to tackle these · Feed­back sessions · Evening outreach event on buil­ding local anti-racism poli­cies with local policy-makers, migrants and mino­ri­ties orga­ni­sa­tions & scholars

Day 5 : Resis­ting and comba­ting racism

Keynote and discus­sion on anti-racist scholar acti­vism · Feed­back Sessions · Parti­ci­pa­tory work­shop on anti-racist acti­vism with an anti-racist organization

Confirmed spea­kers & orga­ni­sa­tions include

Anissa Bouj­daini · Lisette Lombé · Anders Neer­gaard · Patrick Simon · Amal Miri · Parvati Raghuram · Guia Gilar­doni · Niko­lett Szelei  · Giacomo Orsini · Pieter-Paul Verhaeghe · Umut Erel · Dounia Boura­bain · Sarah Adeyinka · John Solomos · KifKif · Levl · MRAX

Conditions/​Requirements

The parti­ci­pa­tion fee is €360 for IMISCOE members & €460 for non-IMISCOE members. The parti­ci­pa­tion fee includes lectures, course mate­rials, food/​drinks during the day, a parti­ci­pa­tion in public outreach event, a museum visit and a deco­lo­nial guided tour in Brus­sels. Funding for a regis­tra­tion fee waiver, travel and accom­mo­da­tion costs up to €800 is fore­seen for 5 and possibly more parti­ci­pants (depen­ding on the successful acqui­si­tion of addi­tional funding by the orga­ni­zers). Those who would like to be consi­dered for this grant should mention this in their appli­ca­tion and confirm that they are unable to be funded by their home institution.

Please apply here by uploa­ding 1 PDF-file inclu­ding : a 300–500 words abstract that contains a descrip­tion of your moti­va­tion for atten­ding the summer school ; of the topic, research ques­tion and metho­do­logy of the paper or project you would like to discuss in the summer school ; also mention whether you would like to apply for the grant/​fee waiver (not included in the word count); and add a CV. The selec­tion of the candi­dates will be made on the basis of the quality of the abstract.

Final admis­sion to the summer school will depend on the submis­sion of a paper or research project descrip­tion (6000–8000 words) by 27 March. Parti­ci­pants are expected to spend approxi­ma­tely 30 hours reading in prepa­ra­tion for the summer school.

Time­line

Dead­line for appli­ca­tion : 8 January 2023

Noti­fi­ca­tion of accep­tance : 15 January 2023

Noti­fi­ca­tion of grant : 22 January 2023

Dead­line for the submis­sion of the paper : 27 March 2023

PhD school : 24–28 April 2023

For inqui­ries : please contact birmm@​vub.​be (Dr. Sibel Top)

Academic coor­di­na­tors : Prof. Ilke Adam (BIRMM, VUB), Dr. Sibel Top (BIRMM, VUB), Hannah Vermaut (BIRMM, VUB), Prof. Marco Marti­niello (CEDEM, ULiège), Dr. Floor Verhaege (CESSMIR, UGent), Prof. Sorana Toma (CESSMIR, UGhent), Dr. Amal Miri (Network on Migra­tion and Global Mobi­lity, UAnt­werp), Dr. Milena Belloni (Network on Migra­tion and Global Mobi­lity, UAntwerp).

Refe­rence page