Organized by the Institute of Ethnic Studies (INR) at Yunnan University and the Interculturalism, Migration and Minorities Research Centre (IMMRC) at the Catholic University Leuven in collaboration with the International Metropolis project, to be held at Yunnan University in Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China, on April 17-18, 2014
Aims and objectives
We are seeking critical and creative contributions focusing on the topics of migration, borderlands and development from a wide range of disciplines in social sciences and humanities. Within the migration/mobility contexts, borderlands and development are central interrelated concepts. Borderlands refer to both physical as well as imagined places. Borderlands emerge with border crossings by voluntary migrants in search of a better life. Contrarily, its emergence might also be the unplanned outcome of political and economic crisis, securitization of borders, and restrictive migration and integration policies of nation states and changing into a temporary in-between buffer zone. Moreover, as imaginary places, borderlands refer to the creative and political responses of people who are positioned in the margins of well-established majorities, and therefore in search of recognition. Therefore, an understanding of borderlands must incorporate a link between the emergence, flexibility, and changeability of borders and boundaries (constituting the borderlands), the mechanisms of maintenance and change, and processes of resistance, hybridization, and creativity. It must equally incorporate the variety of linkages between space, body, and objects. The nexus of development and borderlands can lead to both human and regional development in both material and nonmaterial forms as a result of border crossings and borderland dynamics. These might lead to increased marginalization, but under particular circumstances it might also lead to new economic opportunities, such as transnational investments, transnational entrepreneurship, niche developments, etc. Such developmental dynamics evidently impact the well-being or the lack thereof of migrants.
The conference will address these issues, but will also interrogate local, regional and national policy interventions. Which policies, on either side of a border, help foster the proliferation of economic opportunities? How do local, regional and national authorities channel transborder mobilities? What ethnic and national diversities are at play in these borderlands and which policies contribute to the creation of a ‘diversity dividend’ of sorts?
Participation and Registration
People interested in presenting a paper are invited to prepare an abstract of no more than 100 words including a firm title and send it no later than April 2, 2014 to Dr. Liu Yongqing, wdlyql@126.com. INR will return a letter of invitation; international participants will need such a letter for their visa application. Registration costs are 800 CNY (approx. 100 euro), to be paid on site. Participation includes lunches and dinner parties and an excursion to the Stone Forest. Kunming has an international airport and can be reached by various airlines. Hotel accommodation is available.
INR will provide free room in the Kunming Green Lake View Hotel for participants who are member of IMMRC or the International Steering Committee of the International Metropolis Project. Please be advised that you may be required to share a two bedroom with another participant. Alternatively, you are welcome to book accommodation on your account:
Kunming Green Lake View Hotel *** Approx 60 euro/ per night Google Map link
222 Renmin Middle Road, Wuhua, Kunming, Yunnan, China, 650031
+86 8716116666
Green Lake Hotel ***** Approx. 120 euro per night. Google Map link
6 Cuihu South Road, Wuhua, Kunming, Yunnan, China
http://www.greenlakehotelkunming.com/
Home Inn Approx. 30 euro per night. Google Map link
152 Cuihu South Road, Wuhua, Kunming, Yunnan, China
+86 8715335588
Location
Institute of Ethnic Studies (INR), Yunnan University,
NO 2 North Green lake Road, Kunming,
Yunnan 650091, China
(Google Map Link)
Further information about registration fees, the venue, and logistics will be provided on the ABRN website once the panels have been accepted.
Convenors
- Prof. He Ming, Yunnan University, PR China
- Prof. Ching Lin Pang, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Prof. Jan Rath, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Dr. Liu Yongqing, Yunnan University, PR China
Further information
INR, http://www.xbzx.ynu.edu.cn/ (Link no longer available)
IMMRC, http://soc.kuleuven.be/web/home/3/7/eng
International Metropolis, http://www.metropoliseurope.org/