Call for Papers
Forced Migration in/of Asia: Geographies, Rules, Actors and Hierarchies
International Studies Association International Conference, Hong Kong, June 15-18th 2017 (http://www.isanet.org/Conferences/ISA-Hong-Kong-2017)
Umut Korkut, Glasgow School for Business and Society
Elaine Ho, National University of Singapore
This panel, 'Forced Migration in/of Asia: Geographies, Rules, Actors, and Hierarchies' aims to probe the epistemological and methodological assumptions underlying the studies of forced migration in/of Asia. Emerging new research examines how forced migration within, across and extending beyond the borders of Asian states (henceforth Asian forced migration) can be considered both connected to and yet regionally distinctive from the refugee regime that developed around European agendas during the postwar period. This new research has begun the important work of analysing how Asian forced migration experiences fit into wider global narratives without losing sight of the specificity of particular regional situations.
This panel thus seeks to critically examine the connections forged through forced migration trends in/of Asia. By referring to ‘Asian forced migration’ we are attentive to the human displacement happening in Asia as well as those linking Asian displaced populations to countries outside of Asia, such as through refugee resettlement abroad. We are also aware of the need to analyse Asian forced migration in relation to international migration patterns and migration governance, while also not essentialising the regional imaginaries in and through which we work, including of ‘Asia’.
We call for empirically-led papers that focus theoretically on the geographies, experiences, rules, actors, and hierarchies evinced during Asian forced migration. Analysing forced migration in/of Asia presents us with an opportunity to discuss the unfolding of population politics as well as of demographic, labour market and religious transformations. This panel relates to themes central to the conference such as how concepts travel, good governance strategies, demographic challenges and well-being, and finally human dignity and conflict.
Themes to be considered (with respect to Asian forced migration) include, but are not limited to:
• The characteristics and layers of irregularities evinced in the migration regimes, border security or transit zones that govern the management of forced migrants
• The distinctions or overlaps between the formal and informal, or documented and undocumented aspects of forced migration
• The internationalist, anti-nationalist or nationalist stances exhibited by nation-states and international organisations in dealing with forced migrants
• The visual devices, imaginaries and discourses that pro- and anti-migration movements employ in reaction to forced migration
• The institutional actors and communities involved in the reception of forced migrants at the local, regional, national, and international levels
• The identities embodied by forced migrants, such as those to do with gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation, and how these might affect migrant experiences
Please submit abstracts (max 200 words) to Dr Umut Korkut ([log in to unmask]) and Dr Elaine Ho ([log in to unmask]) by 27 September 2016.
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