Call for Papers
Restructuring Refuge and Settlement: Responding to the Global Dynamics
of Displacement
Conference organized by The Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced
Migration Studies (CARFMS)
Hosted by the Centre for Refugee Studies (CRS)
York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
May 16-18, 2012
Globalization has transformed traditional patterns of human mobility.
Demographic, economic, social, political and environmental developments
accelerate the pace of change. States pursue increasingly selective
policies with a view to maximizing economic benefits of immigration.
They tend to favour not only highly skilled migrants, but also a highly
flexible work force. In recent years, the number of temporary foreign
workers admitted to Canada has more than doubled. A similar trend can be
observed in other countries. Different legal and administrative
categories of temporary migrants emerge with different rights and
entitlements. Some of them, especially circular, domestic and seasonal
temporary workers occupy low-wage, low-status jobs with poor labour
standards and are more likely to suffer discrimination in respect to
employment. Low-skilled temporary migrants often have restricted access
to citizenship in the host country and are at risk of falling into
irregular status. The precarious situation in which many migrants and
their family members find themselves is challenging for settlement
policies. There is an urgent need to restructure these policies and to
promote comprehensive integration programmes in order to prevent legal,
economic and social marginalization of migrants. Refuge is another area
which is deeply affected by the global dynamics of displacement. In the
current context of economic uncertainty, concerns about terrorism and
security, and tightened border controls, the condition of IDPs,
stateless persons, irregular migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees
deteriorates. Their access to protection is restricted. The
strengthening of State control over forced migrants through harsher
immigration measures transforms the logic of domestic structures and
public policies. It lowers protection standards and increases the
vulnerability of forced migrants.
The 2012 CARFMS Conference will bring together researchers,
policymakers, displaced persons and advocates from diverse disciplinary
and regional backgrounds to discuss the issue of restructuring refuge
and settlement with a view to better understanding how migration
policies, processes and structures responds to the global dynamics of
displacement. We invite participants from a wide range of perspectives
to explore the practical, experiential, policy-oriented, legal and
theoretical questions raised by refuge and settlement at the local,
national, regional and international levels. The conference will feature
keynote and plenary speeches from leaders in the field, and we welcome
proposals for individual papers and organized panels structured around
the following broad subthemes:
Restructuring settlement: Local, national, comparative and international
issues and concerns
States’ utilitarian approach towards migration challenges the balance
between the objective of economic development, on the one hand, and
integration and equal treatment of migrants, on the other. Recent
changes in the selection of migrant workers have negative consequences
on social cohesion. Settlement, adaptation and integration policies play
an important role at local, national and international levels to address
this situation and prevent exclusion: What are the strengths and the
weaknesses of settlement policies? How should these policies be adapted
to meet the needs of increasing numbers of temporary workers? How can
actors promote a process of integration that fosters social cohesion?
What is the role played by local and national authorities, employers and
members of civil society? How to ensure coherence and coordination
between various actors dealing with issues such as health, education,
social welfare, employment and law enforcement? What are particular
legal, social, economic needs of different groups of migrants? How does
gender, age, ability, race and other factors affect settlement? What are
the best settlement practices?
Restructuring refuge: Local, national, comparative and international
issues and concerns
The recent reform of the Canadian asylum system aims at accelerating the
refugee status determination process and reducing the number of asylum
claims by making the system less attractive. In North America, the
United States and Canada cooperate to stem “unwanted” migration. Similar
developments can be observed in other parts of the world. Critical
analysis of recent trends and developments contributes to a better
understanding of current challenges: How do local, regional and
international mechanisms and logics transform political and media
discourse, norms, policies and practices related to forced migrants?
What are the changes in institutional and procedural arrangements to
deal with refugee and asylum claims? How do these changes affect
protection norms and policies at the local, national and international
level? How do international and local actors, institutions and agencies
promote the legal, economic and social inclusion of forced migrants?
Restructuring settlement and refuge: New approaches and theories
Innovative approaches and theories developed within traditional
disciplines or in interdisciplinary lines foster knowledge on current
norms, policies and practices linked to questions of settlement and
refuge. New theoretical, conceptual, methodological issues from diverse
critical and institutional perspectives highlight these questions,
including: the link between refuge and security in an era of
globalization; the impact of restrictive regulation of the freedom of
movement of forced migrants; the need to redefine policies of
resettlement, adaptation, and integration of immigrants and refugees in
a context of changing migration figures; the adaptation of settlement
policies to promote social inclusion of low-skilled temporary workers,
asylum seekers and irregular migrants; settlement and citizenship.
SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS
Individuals wishing to present a paper at the conference must submit a
250-word abstract and 100-word biography by December 30, 2011. The
conference organizers welcome submissions of both individual papers and
proposals for panels.
Please submit your abstract via the conference website:
http://carfmsconference.yorku.ca. Instructions on how to do this can be
found on the website. As CARFMS will be applying for funding to support
this conference, if you are in a position to submit an abstract by
October 1, 2011, it would be greatly appreciated.
For more information, please contact Michele Millard at [log in to unmask]
--
Michele Millard
Coordinator, Centre for Refugee Studies
8th Floor, York Research Tower
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
Tel: 416-736-2100 ext. 30391
Fax: 416-736-5688
Email: [log in to unmask]
www.yorku.ca/crs
www.refugeeresearch.net
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