15th Braga Summer School on Migration and Forced Displacement

Debates surrounding the ethics of (forced) migration have historically emphasised the importance of moving away from abstract ideals and instead focusing on real-world facts and constraints. This is partially due to the practical urgency questions of migration have had recently. However, one contributing factor may be the discrepancy between widely accepted normative views in academic discussions—such as those regarding the legitimacy of borders (Abizadeh, 2008; Miller, 2010; Carens, 2013; Bertram, 2018) —and the prevailing sentiments of the general public. While there is a strong agreement among scholars that migration ethicists must engage with actual circumstances to a certain degree, there remains a lack of consensus regarding the definition of what the real world is for the purposes of migration ethics. It may be fair to say that ‘people sometimes disagree more about what the real world is (…) than they do about what a just world would look like’ (Carens, 2013: 305). The assertion holds particularly true in today's context, where right-wing movements have effectively mainstreamed the notion of 'alternative facts' in public discourse. In any case, it is a fact that ‘the birth of a discipline’, as Chimni remarks, ‘is not an ahistorical process; disciplines begin and evolve, suffer ebbs and flows, in response to external developments.’ (2009: 23).
Currently, migration ethics relies on a variety of foundational assumptions. Migration is predominantly regarded as a one-off journey undertaken by individuals from one territory to another, during which they slowly become members. Within this framework, discussions regarding migration focus on the rights and duties of migrants in relation to their new state of residence. Scholars often adopt a state-centred perspective, which highlights the criteria governing the admission of migrants and their gradual process of integration. Recent studies in the political theory of migration have started to contest these assumptions by incorporating empirical evidence and critically examining the wider social, political, and economic framework that influence migration (Achiume, 2019; Dumitru, 2023; Sharma, 2017; Reed-Sandoval & Díaz Cepeda, 2021). To fully grasp the complexities of migration, it is essential to consider this context, which will aid us in formulating normative theories that respond to the diverse political challenges associated with migration. Our workshop aims to delve into numerous research paths that remain under-explored.

Migration and/or Forced Displacement: How should we conceptualise refugeehood? What does it mean to be forcibly displaced? Should we keep up the distinction between refugees and other migrants? Are refugees special? How should we better capture the rights of internally displaced people? 

De-colonial Perspectives: To what extent do migration regimes perpetuate colonial practices? Could migration and asylum be ways to correct former colonial injustices? In what ways do the demands of migrants align with or clash against the interests of other socially disadvantaged groups? In a wider context, how do historical and geopolitical factors influence the formulation of migration policies in terms of their normative significance?

Political Legitimacy: What do we gain from taking legitimacy, rather than justice, as the central value in a normative theory of migration? 

Statism: Should (forced) migration be determinate at the level of the state? What is and what could be the role of cities and regional polities, international union of states, as well as non-state actors like NGOs, in the design of migration policies? Would our view of migration change if we adopted the perspective of (forced) migrants, instead of the perspective of the state?

Methodological Debates: Is the distinction between non-ideal and ideal theory helpful at all in the migration context? Hoes does methodological nationalism affect migration ethics’ normative standards? Should we focus instead on ethical problems that present themselves to actors in policy contexts (Bauböck et al, 2022)? 

International Law: International migration law has evolved considerably in recent decades—how should normative approaches take that into account?

If you want to apply, please fill in the form and submit the abstract form (website). Please provide your name, contact information, affiliation and short bio (no more than 200 words). Abstracts should not be longer than 400 words and suitable for blind-review. The deadline for abstract submissions is May 1st, 2025. Any inquiries should be sent to [email protected]