200 years of Bonn University: ZEF organizes public panel discussion on migration (research)

December 3, 2018 | 19:00 h - 21:00 h

Panel discussion on Position and positionality in migration research – an exchange of international scholars studying in Bonn

Date: Monday, December 3, 2018 / 7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Venue: Bonner Universitätsforum, Heussallee 18-24, 53113 Bonn
Panelists are ZEF researchers  Mercy Mashingaidze, Anis Fellahi, and Sebastian Forneck
Moderation: PD Dr. Eva Youkhana

Abstract (what will we be talking about?)

Research on migration has become an important topic in Germany and is addressed by many disciplines since migration increased substantially in 2015. Different structures, processes and discourses are of particular importance. „Integration“, „fighting the root causes of migration“, „designing a European migration policy“ are subjects of study and discussion taking place both in academic and public debates. Scholars of migration studies face the challenge to address these issues in order to be heard, funded and acknowledged. Certain theories need to be applied, concepts operationalized.

But how do scholars of migration conduct research on migration if they are migrants themselves? How is their project looked at by the researched communities? What underlying resentments and prejudices emerge and influence the study, if at all? Position and positioning in society and positionality in particular contexts matter. It explains why the approaches to and research results from the field might take different shapes, why the analysis of data can be interpreted in different ways – without having lost the scientific accuracy or ethical ideals. It poses the question whether the established approaches in migration research that look at transnational dynamics (labor and remittances), pull and push factors in the labor market, or mere institutional and / or structural approaches are often too short-sighted.

In our critical and courageous reflection on positionality in migration research we want to raise attention for different issues:

1. The importance of positionality for research in general and studies on migration in particular
2. Migrating students at postgraduate level who come to Germany to study their own "figure", namely the migrant and
3. The city of with its international trajectory and place to study migration.

For more information please visit the Website <link www.uni-bonn.de/veranstaltungen/public-1513000332.94 - external-link-new-window "Opens internal link in current window">here</link>.