Call for abstracts: Meanings and Measures of Migration Aspirations
We invite abstracts for a workshop that seeks to explore the forefront of research on the nature of migration aspirations and related concepts. That is, how can we conceptualize and empirically examine people’s thoughts and feelings about potentially migrating?
Submission deadline: Wednesday 24 September 2025.
Workshop dates: 8–9 January 2026
Location: PRIO Migration Centre, Oslo (Norway)
Participation: On-site strongly encouraged; remote possible if necessary
️ Costs: Accommodation and meals are covered; you pay for travel
Ambition: Special issue with selected papers
Reshares of this call are greatly appreciated
Read the full call (with submission form): https://lnkd.in/dC-zerB6
We welcome papers from across the social sciences and humanities and expect a multidisciplinary group of participants. The key element is the link between thoughts and feelings in the present, and prospective mobility in the future. Regardless of the methods, scope and discipline, there should be an innovative element in how migration aspirations are conceptualized or measured. Possible areas of contribution include (but are not limited to) the following:
New approaches to eliciting thoughts and feelings about migrating
New conceptualizations of migration aspirations and related terms
New forms of data on thoughts and feelings about migrating
New ways of differentiating between forms of migration aspirations
New approaches to emic notions of thoughts and feelings about migrating
New takes on the link between migration and life aspirations
The workshop is organized in conjunction with the European Research Council (ERC) project Future Migration as Present Fact (FUMI) https://prio.org/fumi and also extends from panels on migration aspirations at the past several IMISCOE Research Network conferences.
Timeline
24 September 2025 – Deadline for extended abstracts (300–400 words)
29 September 2025 – Notification of applicants
31 December 2025 – Submission of draft papers
Organizers
Jørgen Carling (Peace Research Institute Oslo)
Naiara Rodríguez Peña Rodríguez-Peña (University for Continuing Education Krems; University of Deusto)
Tone Sommerfelt (Peace Research Institute Oslo)