News from Members

Eroding Solidarity? Forced Migration, Protection, and Inclusion in a World Beyond Order

September 28 – 30, 2026 | University of Hildesheim | Germany

Organised by the German Network for Forced Migration Studies and Centre for Diversity, Democracy and Inclusion in Education, University of Hildesheim

Conference Theme and Objectives

This international academic conference critically explores how forced migration, refugee protection, and inclusion are being redefined in an increasingly fragmented and uncertain global order. It seeks to examine the impact on solidarities across international, national and local contexts. Which forms of solidarity are currently under stress, and which are gaining in importance and how? What does this mean for the rights, recognition, protection, and participation of displaced people?

Over the past decade, forced migration has increased globally, reaching 123.2 million people being displaced in 2024. A convergence of factors shapes this rise: continuing and (re)escalating conflicts in places such as Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Gaza, the broader Middle East and the Horn of Africa; authoritarian resurgence and weakened multilateralism; environmental degradation; and entrenched global inequalities. Adding to the intersecting factors and their complexity, international development aid has been used for years to address the “root causes of migration”, but paradoxically, large-scale infrastructure projects drive further displacements. These overlapping challenges have strained traditional protection frameworks and hindered the capacity of existing governance systems to respond effectively.

Seventy-five years after the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention, its core principles remain formally intact but are routinely questioned, reinterpreted, or circumvented. Thus, the normative foundations of refugee protection are under increasing pressure. For instance, European governments are shifting from multilateral agreements to bilateral deals with countries of origin, allowing them to control and manage migration through carefully chosen partnerships. Such deals circumvent UN-led efforts and risk both perpetuating colonial-era inequalities and marginalising migrants, particularly without robust human rights protections. Moreover, deterrence, externalisation, and securitisation strategies are intensifying, even in long-standing asylum states. Across many democratic countries, right-wing populist parties and narratives are gaining traction, while centre-left parties shift rightward on migration and asylum policy. Public discourses around migration are often polarised and erode social cohesion and political support for inclusive policies, while often lacking a factual, scientific base. Unequal access and exclusion processes persist in post-migrant societies. In this situation, relevant civil society initiatives are subject to growing pressure; yet, examples of everyday solidarity, mutual support, and conviviality continue to emerge. 

Geographically, while current media output and research often focus on the receiving states in the Global North, most refugees end up in neighbouring countries, which are predominantly in the Global South. This highlights a mismatch between the global focus on displacement from the South to the North and the actual patterns of forced migration, as well as the nuanced and diverse practices of solidarity. For some time, media representatives, politicians, researchers and others framed refugees solely as victims. Yet, recent scholarly work has led away from this type of framing, viewing displaced people as actors who are mobilising to create new forms of solidarity and care.

This conference invites interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral dialogue to explore how actors—ranging from policymakers and frontline practitioners to scholars and community organisers—are responding to these developments. We are particularly interested in contributions that examine how protection and inclusion are conceptualised and practised amid growing political uncertainty, administrative constraints, and social fragmentation.

Inter- and transdisciplinary Engagement

The conference is open to researchers with and without refugee experience at all career levels, as well as practitioners, students, and other interested parties. We aim to bring together participants from diverse sectors of society as well as academic fields—including, but not limited to, political science, sociology, anthropology, social work, human geography, education, law, public health, media and communication studies, and psychology. The goal is to bridge empirical knowledge and practice-based expertise to foster critical, collaborative conversations.

We welcome papers that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Changing governance regimes of refugee protection and asylum
• The shifting role of international organisations and multilateral frameworks
• Urban displacement and the local politics of inclusion
• Right-wing populism, securitisation, and the criminalisation of mobility
• Deterrence, deportation, and externalisation policies
• Protection gaps and humanitarian governance in protracted crises
• Environmental displacement and climate-induced migration
• Refugee participation, agency, and grassroots organising
• Civil society responses and sanctuary movements
• Intersections of forced migration with race, gender, sexuality, and class
• Mental health, trauma, and psychosocial support in contexts of displacement
• Education, language access, and the politics of belonging
• Digital borders, biometric surveillance, and data governance in asylum systems
• Legal and ethical challenges in migration adjudication and protection
• Refugees’ everyday strategies of navigation, resistance, and integration
• Comparative perspectives on solidarity and exclusion across world regions

We invite theoretical, empirical, and practice-based contributions. We particularly encourage submissions that speak across disciplinary or sectoral boundaries and those that amplify underrepresented voices, including scholars and practitioners with lived experience of displacement.

Submission Guidelines

Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and include the author’s name, affiliation, and email address.

• All proposals should be submitted via the online form by January 9, 2026.
• Selected participants will be notified by March 2026.
• Submissions must be in German or English.
• Submissions may also be recommended by the Working Groups (AKs) of the German Network for Forced Migration Studies. Such recommendations will be given privileged consideration in the selection process.

Formats Accepted

• Individual paper presentations
• Pre-organised panels
• Roundtables
• Workshops 

Selection Criteria and Guidelines for Panel, Roundtable and Workshop Proposals

• Full Panel: Panel proposals should include a maximum of four papers. We warmly welcome proposals including only three papers - this leaves room for the organising committee to incorporate one additional individual submission per panel that aligns thematically. We strongly encourage proposals that reflect institutional diversity and include participants at different career stages, from early-career scholars to senior researchers. Panels that foster dialogue between academic researchers and practitioners—such as those working in policy, administration, schools or NGOs—are especially welcome, as they contribute to the interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral character of the conference.

• Roundtable: Proposals should focus on fostering open discussion and exchange on a specific question, challenge, or emerging topic in the field that clearly aligns with the conference's overall theme. Roundtables are particularly suited for debate-oriented formats rather than formal presentations of research findings. Submissions should clearly articulate the topic of discussion, the intended participants, and how the conversation will be structured to maximise engagement. Additionally, proposals should briefly argue for the relevance of the topic—explaining why it matters to the field, to practice, or to current scholarly debates. We encourage submissions that create space for dialogue among participants from diverse backgrounds. Contributions that involve participants from a variety of sectors—such as refugee-led organisations, policy, or education—are encouraged, as they promote dialogue across different perspectives and enrich the practical relevance of the discussion.

• Workshop: Workshop proposals should outline an interactive, 90-minute session designed to engage participants in active learning, skill development, or collaborative problem-solving. Unlike panels, workshops are not primarily discussion-based; they should include hands-on, participatory elements and a clear rationale for why the format is appropriate. Workshop proposals should clearly state the aims of the session and explain why a workshop format is more suitable than a panel, describing the planned interactive methods in detail. They should indicate whether the workshop is intended to produce a tangible outcome, such as (the preparation for) a publication, teaching resource, or methodological tool. Proposals are expected to explain how the topic relates to the overall conference theme and why it is timely and relevant. They should also specify the intended audience and outline how participants with diverse backgrounds and perspectives will be engaged. Finally, proposals must include information on any spatial, technical, or material requirements necessary to conduct the workshop effectively. We especially welcome workshops that bridge research and practice, offering participants opportunities to apply insights in concrete, real-world contexts.

Find out all details and info about the conference and registration here