New directions in migration studies: towards methodological de-nationalism

Abstract

In this paper I consider how the construction of migration as a problem poses both ethical and epistemological challenges to migration scholars and how this is related to political and methodological nationalism. I briefly outline two paradigm shifts that have been highly generative in our field and beyondmethodological transnationalism and the mobilities turn, both of which have as their starting point a critique of the nation state as a container of social processes. Building on these critiques and alternatives to methodological nationalism I go on to propose an approach I'm calling 'methodological denationalism' which takes as its starting point the migrant/citizen distinction. Key to this approach is to 'migrantize' the citizen, and I go on to give some examples of how this is done, not only to citizens of colour, but also to those who support non-citizens or who are the partners of non-citizens. Finally, I suggest that migrantizing the citizen enables us not only to look at the ways in which immigration controls affect citizens, but also how we might begin to make connections between the formal exclusions of noncitizenship and the multiple, and sometimes informal exclusions within citizenship.

Data and research to inform global policy: the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration

“…Nationalistic tendencies in data and information systems effectively problematizing the migrant (cf. Anderson, 2019). Hence, there is a critical role for the application of migration theory, and the attention of the social sciences generally, in tandem with migration policy, in guiding migration data collection and research, and in implementing approaches to data collection and analysis that are effectively and flexibly grounded in the social and demographic reality of migration.…”

Revisiting Borders and Boundaries: Exploring Migrant Inclusion and Exclusion from Intersectional Perspectives

“…There is, however, growing concern that work on these areas of inquiry tends to rely on often unquestioned nation-state-and ethnicity-centred epistemologies (e.g. Anderson, 2019;Dahinden, 2016;Nieswand & Drotbohm, 2014;Wimmer & Schiller, 2002). In response to such criticism, this Special Issue collates novel approaches in the study of the dimensions, experiences, practices and politics of migrant inclusion and exclusion that combine theories of boundary work with insights from border studies.…”

Two cheers for Migration Studies

“…With much of this topic comprised of studies regarding Black Americans (whose history based on slavery is only marginally comparable to most contemporary international migration), its fit in Migration Studies is highly questionable. Arguably for some, too, the inclusion of all studies of racial and ethnic minorities within Migration Studies might inherently equate or 'migrantize' such purported minorities as being akin to foreign 'others' (Anderson 2019). Relatedly, the study of racism is clearly relevant to migrants, albeit not focused on migrants.…”