There is increasing acknowledgment in European and German scholarship in particular that more attention needs to be paid to world regions that host most refugees and other migrants. This is long established by critical scholars (Fiddian-Qasmiyeh 2020), but Eurocentric research continues to dominate the German forced migration studies landscape (Kleist et. al 2019) – despite exciting and interesting research taking place. On the basis of two research projects looking at forced migration and peace in African countries, a workshop series is planned for 2022. We seek to bring together interdisciplinary researchers in forced migration studies with a focus on Africa based in Germany as well as their research partners to present their work, get to know each other, enter into exchange and network, ultimately to strengthen this field of work.
The first workshop will take place in-person at the ABI in Freiburg on the 11th June and will follow the VAD conference Africa-Europe: Reciprocal Perspectives (7-10th June, 2022).
The second workshop will take place digitally in autumn 2022 at the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS), Osnabrück University and, though it is not compulsory, it is advantageous to participate in both workshops to enable continued exchange as well as develop discussions and interests over a longer period of time.
Ulrike Krause, Nadine Segadlo and Franzisca Zanker
Additional information about the research projects: The two research projects are “Forced Displacement in Africa: The politics and stakeholders of migration governance” led by Franzisca Zanker, ABI and “Forced Migration, Women – and Peace? Peacebuilding practices of women in refugee camps” led by Ulrike Krause and carried out by Nadine Segadlo, IMIS, Osnabrück University. The projects are independently funded by the German Foundation for Peace Research (DSF).