Report of the IMISCOE Theory Conference-Diaspora and Transnationalism
Aim of the conference
The IMISCOE theory conference Diaspora and Transnationalism was hosted and co-organized by the European University Institute in Florence on 10 -12 April 2008. The goal of the conference was to engage in a multidisciplinary dialogue on different interpretations and uses of the concepts of diaspora and transnationalism, on theoretical lenses for explaining related phenomena and on new methodological approaches in empirical research. Our ambition was to take stock of, and to critically reflect on the proliferation of studies using these two concepts and to relate various literatures to each other that are mostly discussed in separate academic fora. This concerns not only the need for exchange between disciplines and different social science paradigms, but also the need to link the study of different empirical phenomena, such as transnational migration and of diasporic relations between kin states and their co-ethnic minorities abroad. A main criterion for selecting papers was that they should go beyond the presentation of case studies and empirical data and contribute to the CTM (concepts, theories, methods) focus of the conference.
Structure and organisation of the conference
A call for papers was launched within the IMISCOE network and the EUI but was eventually circulated in other networks and resulted in a large number of external submissions and requests for participation, most of which had to be turned down for lack of space at the venue. Altogether 40 extended outlines of papers were submitted. A programme committee involving 7 IMISCOE members from different clusters invited 28 scholars to submit full versions of their papers at the conference. All papers were made available prior to the meeting on a conference website.
The conference was subdivided into three parts corresponding to the CTM approach and consisted of 8 panels, each with two or three papers and one comment by a discussant, and a concluding round-table on perspectives for future research.
Download the conference programme
Evaluation of the conference
The conference was very successful in terms of quality of papers, lively discussions and a maximum turnout. Overall, there were 64 registered participants, only two of whom had to cancel on short notice. Among the 15 IMISCOE participants, 7 represented thematic cluster B3 (citizenship and political participation), 3 cluster A1 (international migration and its regulation), 3 cluster B4 (the economic dimension of migration), and 2 cluster C8 (gender, age and generations). All participants from the IMISCOE network performed as paper givers, discussants or organizers. There were additional 33 participants from the EUI and another 14 academics from other institutions in Europe and North America.
Output of the conference
After the conference, the organizers evaluated the presented papers and invited 15 revised contributions for a book publication that will be submitted for the IMISCOE research series with Amsterdam University Press.
A policy brief is being prepared and expected to be published in October 2008.
