Special Interest Groups
In the spring of 2022 four Special Interest Groups have been awarded funding from the Focus Area Migration and Societal Change. All SIGs bring scholars form various faculties and disciplines together to work on one common topic. A wide variety in topics has been chosen and we proudly present the four selected SIGs to you.
Citizenship and Immigrant Integration
Contact person: Dr. Swantje Falcke(UU)
The special interest group ‘Citizenship and immigrant integration’ aims to establish an interdisciplinary network for studying the role of citizenship, and naturalization, in particular for mobility patterns, integration outcomes and life course developments from a long-term perspective. Within our network we want to focus on the role of citizenship acquisition as well as the impact of non-citizenship (e.g., irregular migration, undocumented or stateless migrants).
Naturalization is a core principle of democratic societies, providing newcomers with an opportunity for full participation and equal standing. Beyond providing legal rights and duties, research shows that naturalization can play an important positive role in the settlement process of immigrants, for instance by levelling the playing field in the labor or housing market and facilitating mobility within and between countries. Yet many important questions remain, including the ways in which citizenship policies condition outcomes associated with naturalization, how citizenship ties into questions of belonging and identity, which migrants benefit most from naturalization, and how short- and long-term effects play out across the life course. The complexity of this topic calls for an interdisciplinary approach. By linking the expertise of different disciplines (social sciences, history, human geography, political science, economics, law) we aim to arrive at a more robust and comprehensive understanding of the role of naturalization in immigrant life courses.
The rise of the radical right in Europe: An interdisciplinary approach
Contact person: Dr. Anouk Smeekes (UU)
From the Austrian Freedom Party to the French Rassemblement national, populist radical right parties (PRRPs), with a strong anti-immigrant rhetoric and ethnic nationalist agenda, have been on the rise across Europe over the past decades. As a result of this development, research on PRRPs has become increasingly popular and widespread. The field, however, also faces challenges and shortcomings that call for novel and interdisciplinary research. The aim of this SIG is to stimulate interdisciplinary research, within and beyond Utrecht University, that addresses the following research questions:
Main research question: How can the rise and evolvement of populist radical right parties across Europe be explained and what is the role of minority groups in these movements and their electorates?
Sub-questions:
What are the social-psychological underpinnings of PRRPs supply and demand across Western and Eastern Europe, and how do they complement political scientific/political sociological approaches?
What are the roles of women and ethnic minorities in the discourse of PRRPs as well as their electorates?
How does the refugee crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine, affect and change PRRPs rhetoric and electoral support?
Student Mobility: Imaginaries, Temporalities and Regimes
Contact person: Dr. Özge Bilgili (UU)
The SIG Student Mobility addresses current research problems in the field by distinguishing between three pillars: imaginaries, temporalities and regimes in student mobility. By doing this, our aim is to delve into the experiences of young adults as (potential) student migrants, while also addressing issues related to the multi-level governance of international student mobility and its positioning within a broader framework of social infrastructures.
Furthermore, the group will pay close attention to gendered and racialized causes and consequences of student mobility, adopt a life course perspective and situate student mobility within an eco-system of higher education institutions, cities and the labor market. SIG invites reflective research on new hubs of student mobility going beyond the Global North, the implications of using various definitions around international students as a way of decentering student mobility, and the alternative (virtual) educational mobilities in higher education from a transnational approach.
Multidisciplinary PhD group
Contact person: Bobby Kunst (UU) and Yuseyrenur Yilmaz (UU)
Utrecht University is home to a diverse and talented community of PhD candidates working on the complex and pressing topic of migration. Recognizing the need for greater interdisciplinary cooperation and exchange of perspectives among these researchers, a Special Interest Group has been formed to bring them together in the broader framework of the Focus Area Migration & Societal Change.
Comprised of PhD candidates from all faculties of the university, this group aims to foster collaboration and support among its members through a variety of events and initiatives. From writing workshops and media trainings to lectures and panel discussions, the group provides a platform for researchers to share their knowledge, hone their skills, and engage in meaningful dialogue with one another.
By encouraging interdisciplinary cooperation and exchange of perspectives, the group seeks to deepen our collective understanding of migration and its many complexities. Through collaboration and community, the group hopes to contribute to a more nuanced and informed conversation around this critical issue.
Whether you are a fresh PhD candidate at Utrecht University or have only recently discovered this group, you are welcome to join at any time. The group is constantly open to new members, so feel free to reach out and connect with them without hesitation.
Forced Migration
Contact person: Meta van der Linden (UU) and Saira Wahid (UU)
The SIG on Forced Migration was established to bring together scholars across Utrecht University working on issues related to refugees, displacement, and forced migration. The SIG aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration, connecting researchers who engage directly with displaced populations as well as those examining societal, political, and policy responses to refugee arrivals in destination countries.
The SIG is particularly timely in light of recent global developments, including the Syrian civil war and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which have led to significant refugee movements. These events have raised complex questions about human rights, integration, wellbeing, policy responses, and social cohesion.
Concluded SIGs
The SIGs below are not active anymore. We thank them wholeheartedly for their accomplishments and their contributions to the focus area.