DeZIM Conference 2024

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Migration – Conflict – Solidarity A Contested Field between Politics and Research

DeZIM Conference 2024 in Mannheim

This year’s conference of the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM) took place at the University of Mannheim from October 9 to 11, 2024. Under the theme “Migration – Conflict – Solidarity. A Contested Field between Politics and Research”, the conference brought together over 150 participants, offering a platform to share ideas, research findings, and practical insights on topics related to recognition, participation, social cohesion, and the discourse of identities in post-migrant societies.

Pre-Conference Workshop

The event began with a pre-conference workshop for over 20 early-career researchers, focusing on an interdisciplinary examination of central terms and concepts in migration, integration, and racism studies. Participants discussed differences and commonalities across disciplines, as well as the potential and limitations of transferring these concepts, particularly in international contexts.

Opening Event

The opening panel of the DeZIM Conference 2024 was titled “Solidarity, Majorities, and Narratives in Post-Migrant Democracies”. Experts from academia, politics, and culture discussed new modes of participation, solidarity, and conflicts within post-migrant societies. Panelists included:

  • Dr. Noa K. Ha (Scientific Managing Director of the DeZIM Institute)
  • Prof. Dr. Andreas Zick (Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence (IKG) at Bielefeld University)
  • Souad Lamroubal (Expert in local migration management and author)
  • Claus Preißler (Integration Commissioner for the City of Mannheim).

The discussion centered on how solidarity is redefined in post-migrant societies and the narratives that emerge within this context. The panel addressed how diverse identities are represented in democratic processes and how new opportunities for participation can be created. Panelists agreed that post-migrant democracy not only presents challenges but also offers opportunities for a pluralistic society. However, barriers and tensions remain that need to be addressed politically and socially.

It became clear that insights from migration and integration research can help better understand complex societal dynamics and support political decisions based on reliable knowledge and evidence. This approach fosters policies that strengthen human rights and participation within a solidarity-based, post-migrant democracy.

This opening panel provided a valuable starting point for the conference discussions that followed.

Parallel Sessions

A key aim of the conference was to bring together diverse perspectives on migration, integration, and racism from academia, politics, and practice. In five parallel sessions, participants engaged in in-depth discussions of research and practical insights from various disciplines, projects, and institutions. The program featured a total of 21 panel discussions with 75 presentations, along with four workshops and three roundtable discussions.

The four major collaborative projects within the DeZIM research community—FoDiRa (Research Network on Discrimination and Racism), MigRep (Social Conflicts and Party Competition Dynamics), RäuMig (Spaces of the Migration Society), and TRANSMIT (Transnational Perspectives on Migration and Integration)—also presented their research findings.

Poster Session

During a poster session on the second day of the conference, 13 outstanding posters on current research projects in migration and integration were presented. All participants had the opportunity to engage with the presenters and discuss their research. At the end, attendees voted for the best poster. Nora Wacker (BIM) received the Best Poster Prize for her poster on mechanisms of diasporic voting behavior.

Fishbowl Discussion

In addition to the session presentations, additional dialogue formats created spaces for exchange. A highlight was the Fishbowl discussion on the final conference day, focusing on the future of migration research and policy. The perspectives and visions of early-career researchers were particularly highlighted. The Fishbowl method also allowed audience members to actively engage in the discussion.

The conference committee would like to thank all participants for their engagement and numerous valuable contributions, which made this conference an inspiring and enriching exchange. Your knowledge, perspectives, and lively discussions were instrumental in the success of the DeZIM Conference 2024. We look forward to future events organized by the DeZIM research community.

Program Committee and Conference Organization

Esther Beckey (DeZIM-I), Zeynep Demir (IKG), Andrea Chagas (MZES), Laura Goßner (IAB), Alexandra Graevskaia (InZentIM), Andrea Rumpel (DeZIM-I) 

All information can also be found here as a PDF

In cooperation with

Contact

Andrea Rumpel

Research Networking and Management of the DeZIM Research CommunityStaff Unit Scientific Direction

E-mail: tagung@dezim-institut.de

Contact

Esther Beckey

Project assistant of DeZIM research communityStaff Unit Scientific Direction

E-mail: tagung(at)dezim-institut.de

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