Migrant Decisions, Digital Disinformation, and Refugee Regimes in South-South migration

Debates on global migration in Europe are often framed from the vantage point of destination countries in the Global North, with a predominant focus on border control, irregular migration, and integration. Far less attention is paid to how migration and displacement unfold within the Global South and how migrants are shaped by political regimes, economic conditions, and digital information ecosystems. 

This event foregrounds rarely discussed perspectives on migration and displacement in Southeast Asia and other regions of the Global South and connects these insights with current debates in the European context.

Discussion Focus 

The discussion will explore how refugee and asylum systems in Southeast Asia are structured and in what ways they resemble or differ from European migration policies. It will also examine how digital platforms influence migrants’ expectations, choices of routes, and perceptions of risk, as well as the political, social, and media environments that shape mobility in the Global South. 
These perspectives will then be related to ongoing debates in Germany and Europe on mobility, regulation, and racism.  

Guest 

Malick Gai, journalist and policy analyst specializing in migration, human rights, and media narratives. He lived as a refugee in Hong Kong for ten years and combines personal experience with in-depth reporting on migration in Southeast Asia and the United States. His recent publications include investigations into the role of digital disinformation in migration decisions (The Guardian) and reporting on the expectations of African migrants regarding life in the United States (DocumentedNY). 

Moderation 

Niklas Harder, Co-Head of the Integration Department at the DeZIM Institute. His research focuses on international migration, migration regimes, and regular pathways for migration. 

Note: The event will be held in English.