Call for papers: Migrating in, migrating out: how to (re)think “migrants’” struggles

Dear colleagues, New Left Perspectives and Social Center Xaspel, have the pleasure to invite you to the conference Migrating in, migrating out: how to (re)think “migrants’” struggles that will take place on May 8th and May 9^th 2014 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event is supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung.

We are honored to host Vicki Squire, University of Warwick, who will deliver the keynote lecture and contribute to the discussions.

The goal of the conference is to bring critically together the phenomena of outward and inward migration and to question the sharp distinctions between what has been dubbed as ‘political’ and ‘economic’ migrants by weaving them into one conceptual framework. Our starting position stems from the understanding that we need to engage critically with dichotomies such as inside/outside; political/economic migration, illegal/legal which have been comfortably settled in mainstream research but also in political movements throughout Europe. With this workshop we strive to venture beyond and to visualize a framework that better explains the multifarious resistance practices of “migrants” in late capitalism. Therefore, we bring together academics and activists from several European countries to discuss these issues as intertwined in the larger European political context. We will map knowledge and strategies that go beyond the inside/outside dichotomy and citizen/non-citizen divide in order to fortify our common political efforts.

Application for panels: If you want to take part in the panels, please send us a short (up to 250 words) abstract on the topic you would like to engage with by 15th of April. The presentations should be no longer than 15 minutes. For the panels we welcome interventions based on critical engagement with ethnographic materials, policy analysis or theoretical concerns in the field of migration, citizenship, labour, social security etc. The round tables are open to everybody’s input and concerns.

Funding: Unfortunately, at this point we are not able to fund travel or accommodation expenses. However, we might be able to suggest cheap lodging or couch surfing options, or provide minimal co-funding if funds remain available. Get in touch with us by e-mail by the 15th of April if you need support at NLPmigration@gmail.com.

Participation: There is no participation fee and everyone is welcome to join the roundtables and the discussions.

Working languages: The working language of the panels and roundtable will be English. Keynote lecture will be given in English with translation into Bulgarian. If individual participants need further translation into Bulgaria during the panels, we will do our best to provide such. In addition, we might be able to provide translation to Arabic and Farsi. Please let us know well in advance in case you would need interpreting to any of these languages, so that we will be able to organize it.

Please see the program attached.