Norway

​New article in the journal Migration Studies analyses why migrants vote from abroad in elections in countries of origin, based on 80 interviews with Polish and Romanian migrants in Barcelona and Oslo. Whereas analyses of external voting patterns offer insights into the results of external voting compared to origin populations, there is a lacuna of knowledge about why migrants choose to vote, or not, when they have the right to do so. 

​Master’s thesis affiliated with PRIO and the PRIO’s Migration Centre examines the effectiveness of litigation-based approaches to reforming immigration control practices in Norway. Over the past few decades, human rights have evolved to become enforceable legal rules that place significant constrains on policymaking, creating new opportunities for organised interests to influence society, but also leading many to question their democratic legitimacy. Nowhere is this conflict more visible than within the field of migration management.

​Kelly Fisher has successfully defended his thesis "Moving masculinities: Polish men's migration experiences in Oslo".

Congratulations Kelly!

​In a recent episode of the PRIO Peace in a pod, Marta Bivand Erdal and Lubomiła Korzeniewska share insight from their research with nurse migrants in Norway. They also reflect on how the experience of the pandemic sheds new light on their previous analysis of deskilling in the context of nurse migration.

​Why do migrants vote? How do they compare countries of origin and residence? This new PRIO paper summarizes findings from 80 semi-structured interviews and offers insights from Polish and Romanian migrants living in Barcelona and Oslo. These interviews were conducted as part of the DIASPOlitic project “Understanding the Political Dynamics of Émigré Communities in an Era of European Democratic Backsliding”. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway and led by the University of Oslo, in collaboration with SWPS University in Warsaw and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).

​A lack of a sense of belonging is destructive. So perhaps it is wise to examine both structural racism and everyday racism more closely, also in Norway. Recent debates on structural racism in Norway have been more polarized than necessary, while often ignoring that lack of a sense of belonging can be experienced as both acutely alienating and gradually destructive. But do such debates contribute to fostering a better sense of belonging in Norwegian society, on an equal basis, for all children and young people who are born in Norway? 

Why do migrants want vote in country of origin elections? Do they seek to drive change? And what are the reasons why some migrants also feel they ought not to have the right to vote in their origin contexts? Through 80 semi-structured interviews with Polish and Romanian migrants in Barcelona and Oslo the DIASPOLitic team sought to find out.

​As refugees and other migrants arrived in increased numbers to Europe during the summer of 2015, many citizens across Europe mobilized to provide basic assistance in different ways along the route: from food, shelter, clothes, to access to wifi and charging stations for mobile phones. Alongside the massive political and media attention to the migrants arriving, was also this phenomenon: the widespread mobilization of volunteers, many whom had never or rarely been involved in volunteer initiatives earlier. As the number of people wanting to help grew rapidly, the initiatives needed to organize and create structures to coordinate the volunteers. How did this transition from spontaneous volunteer initiatives, at a moment with high media and political attention, materialize into formalized structures, responding to needs and contexts that also changed over time?

​Join the winter seminar in human geography session on geographical perspectives on migration and borders (Thursday 11 March 10.30-12.00 CET). The four presentations and introduction will focus less on border control, but instead offer multiple views on borders & boundary-making in relation to migration, and to geographical research thereof.

EXPLORING INSPIRATION

Artists living in Norway and working on themes related to violent conflict and exile are hereby invited to take part in a unique series of online workshops in March-April 2021 to Explore Inspiration. Deadline for applications is March 1.

​Noor Jdid has successfully defended her PhD dissertation: "Taking part in society the way I am". An exploration of active citizenship norms in Denmark and Norway at the University of Bergen.

Congratulations from all at PRIO!