Ivana Rapoš Božič
At the CEEISA-ISA International Conference 2024, held from June 18-21 at the University of Rijeka in Croatia, Ivana Rapoš Božič presented a pioneering approach to migration research centered on the perspectives of migrants themselves. In her talk, titled “Reverse Sociology of Migration,” Ivana introduced a novel epistemological and methodological approach that prioritizes the voices and viewpoints of people with a migratory background, moving away from the traditional perspective of the “us” in host societies.
The study, based in Brno, Czechia’s second-largest city and an emerging destination for immigration in Central and Eastern Europe, explores how migrants perceive their place in society and how they draw boundaries in relation to native-born populations and other migrant groups. Ivana and her team conducted in-depth qualitative interviews to reveal the complexities in boundary-making processes and the construction of migration categories and identities among various groups on the move.
The goal of this study is to rethink the “host society” perspective and contribute to discussions on decolonizing and decentering migration studies by focusing on the agency of people with a migratory background. Ivana’s presentation sparked vibrant discussions at the conference and raised new questions about how migration can be studied to better reflect the experiences of migrants themselves.
Radka Klvaňová showcased our latest findings at the 21st IMISCOE Annual Conference and the 16th ESA Conference, engaging with international scholars on migration, boundary-making, and hierarchies of Otherness.
At the 2024 ASA Annual Meeting held from August 9-13 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, our team presented fresh insights into the decolonization of migration studies. During a panel session on August 13...
