On migration, geography, and epistemic communities

Abstract

This commentary paper starts by questioning the assumption that migration means international migration, and goes on to affirm that migration studies has indeed come of age as a coherent if highly diverse research field. Several emerging epistemic communities are identified: migration and development; gender and migration; lifestyle migration; and youth and student migrations. Finally, I argue that the role of geography in the study of migration has been under-valued.

On uneven internationalisation, disciplinary diversity and interpretation of co-citation analysis

“…was not used normatively but descriptively, in relation to the work of the authors who appeared in those clusters, and the terms often noted in the titles of their publications. We acknowledge the potential "straitjacket" that these concepts may impose on "how we think about migration" (King 2020), however, we cannot erase them from history of migration studies.…”

“…We agree with the authors that in order to advance interdisciplinary research on migration we need to be aware of various disciplinary perspectives in migration studies and their unique conceptual and methodological traditions and innovations. Hollifield (2020), King (2020) and Vertovec (2020) provided valuable additions for such an overview, diving into thematic angles of several disciplines and mentioning prominent authors that we have not pointed out.…”

“…Secondly, we address some of the other apparent thematic omissions from our study. King (2020) and Kofman (2020) observe an apparent omittance of refugee studies and gender & migration. In their respective views, these are two important epistemic communities in migration studies.…”

Türkiye’ye Göçün Değişen Zamansal ve Mekânsal Örüntüleri

“…Dolayısıyla henüz, her türlü mekânsal ölçekte göç ve göçmenlerin mekânsal kalıplarının ortaya çıkarıldığı söylenemez. King (2020), göç araştırmalarında anlaşılması gereken beş temel boyuttan birisinin "göçün kaynak ve hedef sahaları arasındaki akış örüntüsü nedir ve zamanla nasıl değişmiştir?" sorusuna verilecek cevap olduğunu ifade etmektedir.…”

Migration and indigenous health during COVID-19

“…Comments on migration studies gravitate on emerging epistemic communities on their link to geography. 2 The idea is that geography and migration create substantial changes to indigenous knowledge. Migrancy and indigeneity forge a vital link that disengages an original notion of ‘home’ for a certain indigenous group.…”