Research Questions

The IMISCOE Research Network implements an integrated, multidisciplinary, rigorously comparative research programme with Europe as its central focus. Central questions include the following:

• Under what conditions does international migration arise, continue and possibly develop into migration systems?
• Has a European migration area developed and, if so, how does it relate to other (demographic, economic, political or cultural) aspects of the development towards a unifying Europe?
• What factors operating in the regions of origin, what characteristics of migrants and what factors in the destination countries play a part in this migration?
• How selective is the process of international migration – who actually moves, who does not move, and what are the consequences of such selectivity for the process of settlement and integration at the new destinations?
• What are the decisive factors that govern the process of integration at the individual level, the level of organisations and the institutional level in the different spheres within the political, socioeconomic, ethno-cultural and religious domains?
• How do mechanisms and factors of integration processes vary for the different domains, and what are the policy implications of these differences?
• How do the children of immigrants integrate into society at large and how do they combine their membership of an immigrant group with that of the larger society

In geographical terms, Europe will be the focus of the network and the major source of inspiration in setting the priorities of a common research programme. At the same time comparison is one of the most important tools in the Network’s approach and this cannot be limited to a comparison within Europe only. The uniqueness of Europe can only be analysed adequately by comparison, for example with classic immigration countries.

Research Organisation and Call for Initiatives

IMISCOE members can join in small units, named Research Groups, and together initiate activities like:

• Develop and implement a common programme of research-related activities;
• Plan, prepare and implement focused meetings, workshops and conferences that bring together experts (from within and from outside IMISCOE) to work on specific topics;
• Plan and write joint publications from existing knowledge among researchers of IMISCOE (and possibly from outside): state-of-the-art studies and publications on specific topics;
• Develop joint proposals for new research to be funded externally.

These Research Groups can apply for a small budget through Calls for Initiatives. A first Call for Initiatives was distributed in February 2010 to all IMISCOE members to apply for a small budget to organise new activities. A second call is expected in October 2010.

IMISCOE Members can also organise single workshops to discuss specific themes. The Calls for Initiatives are also open for such short-term activities.

For more questions refer to the Network Office: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it