The workshop title reflects the particular perspectives we
encourage. ‘Transnational lives’ suggests analyses that go beyond
particular transnational practices—such as remittance-sending or
expatriate voting—yet remained grounded in lived experience. The words
‘economies, bureaucracies, and desires’ allude to the diversity of
encounters, frictions and forces that may shape transnational lives.
The workshop aims to make a concerted effort for analytical progress.
Twenty-five years after the transnational turn in migration studies was
introduced, what are the most promising lines of inquiry within a
transnational perspective? How should developments in related fields
inform our approach to transnationalism? What are the implications of
changes in technology, policies, and societies for transnational
perspectives on migration?
We specifically encourage empirically grounded papers that
make theoretical advances in the research agenda on transnationalism,
related to the themes outlined in the workshop title.
Transnational perspectives remain associated with international
migration from lower-income to higher-income countries. We encourage
contributions that widen this scope, for instance through studies of
transnational living among élites in the Global South, among Europeans
or North Americans without an immigrant background, or between countries
in the Global South. In particular, we welcome papers that use atypical
empirical cases to explore the potential and limitations of the
insights that have emerged from mainstream studies of transnationalism.
Similarly, papers that are founded on unorthodox comparisons could yield
refreshing theoretical contributions.
Transnational lives need not be studied from the perspective of the
transnational subjects. We welcome contributions that focus on people or
institutions that interact with those who lead transnational lives. For
instance, we encourage analyses of bureaucratic encounters between
people who lead transnational lives and government institutions that
have a primarily national orientation.
The number of places will be limited, since this is a two-day
workshop without parallel sessions. Abstracts will be selected on the
basis of their quality and relevance to the call for papers. In
particular, we will assess the papers’ potential for making analytical
contributions beyond specific cases.
The workshop is organized in conjunction with the project Transnational Lives in the Welfare State (TRANSWEL),
which is funded by the Research Council of Norway and carried out by
the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), the Erasmus University
Rotterdam, and the University of Oslo.
Abstracts must be submitted by 1 June 2017.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome by 1 July 2017. Full papers
must be submitted by 1 December 2017 and will be circulated among
workshop participants.
In order to submit an abstract, please prepare the following:
- A title for the paper
- An abstract of 200-250 words
- Citations for up to three of your own publications that illustrate
your past contributions to advancing research on migration,
transnationalism or other themes related to your proposed paper.
Use the abstract submission form to upload your proposal.
There is no participation fee, but participants must cover their own
travel and accommodation costs. Discounted hotel rooms in the vicinity
of PRIO will be available. The organizers will cover meals during the
workshop.
Organizing committee
Grete Brochmann, University of Oslo
Jørgen Carling, Peace Research Institute Oslo*
Godfried Engbersen, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Marta Bivand Erdal, Peace Research Institute Oslo
Erik Snel, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Cathrine Talleraas, Peace Research Institute Oslo
*) Contact person for enquiries.