Superdiversity
- Dates
- Friday 22 June 2012 (09:00-16:30)
The past twenty years have seen the emergence of an era of superdiversity. As new migration channels surfaced, transnational networks evolved and global connectivity and communication increased we have seen migration of unprecedented scale and complexity. Previous eras of migration have largely consisted of economic migrants arriving from countries with which they have some kind of connection, and then being joined by family, eventually forming the large and stable minority communities that are a key feature of 21st century multiculturalism. New migration sees people arriving in cities like Birmingham from almost every country in the world. New migrants are diverse across a wide range of variables including ethnicity, immigration status, rights and entitlements, labour market experiences, gender and age profiles, and patterns of spatial distribution. While the emergence of this super or hyperdiversity is gradually being acknowledged by academics, politicians and policymakers we lack knowledge about what it means for societies and economies. Vertovec (2007) sets out a wide range of implications associated with superdiversity but as yet little work has been undertaken to explore in a systematic way the meanings, opportunities and challenges associated with our new condition. In response to these gaps in knowledge the University of Birmingham is seeking to establish a research institute for the interdisciplinary study of superdiversity. Some 50 academics from across the University have confirmed their willingness to participate in the new institute (see below). All were invited to the workshop and 40 were able to attend. Many are undertaking work in similar areas but have had no previous contact. The aim of the workshop was to bring these colleagues together. We used the workshop to a) help link academics from across the University with others who have similar interests b) to use the synergy emerging from new relationships to help identify research agendas in superdiversity c) to identify the range of questions that can be explored under each agenda. Five work streams were identified from the workshop and five proposals for future interdisciplinary work have been prepared.
The Workshop
Through gathering academics from across the University with academics, policymakers to participate in focused discussions aimed at developing new agendas in superdiversity we hope to build new relationships and most importantly provide the opportunity for the emergence of interdisciplinary research themes. Such work is critical if the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) is to operate in a truly interdisciplinary fashion. Bringing together people from different disciplines (ie in the area of migrant health there are staff in IASS researching access to health, colleagues in Public Health researching health messages and those in Education researching multilingualism and health) will bring new perspectives on social and economic problems. The research themes emerging from the workshop formed the foundation of the workstreams adopted by IRiS. Each theme will be further developed through focused work with Steven Vertovec when he visits the University in October. http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/applied-social-studies/news-and-events/2012/07/steven-vertovec-lecture.aspx
http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/excellence/fellows/2011/areas/transnationalism-superdiversity.aspx
Academic staff with interests in IRiS
College of Social Sciences | SCHOOL/DEPT |
Chris Allen | Social Policy |
Lisa Goodson | Social Policy |
Ricky Joseph | Social Policy |
Surinder Guru | Social Policy |
Angus McCabe | Social Policy |
Jenny Phillimore | Social Policy |
Michelle Pace | Social Policy |
Isabelle Szmigin | Birmingham Business School |
Paul Edwards | Birmingham Business School |
Hisham Farag | Birmingham Business School |
Fiona Carmichael | Birmingham Business School |
Kiran Trehan | Birmingham Business School |
Pamela Robinson | Birmingham Business School |
Angela Creese | Education |
Adrian Blackledge | Education |
Ian Grosvenor | Education |
Kevin Myers | Education |
Paul Warmington | Education |
Symeon Dagkas | Education |
Lou Cabrera | Political Science & International Studies |
Jose Lingna Nafafe | Political Science & International Studies |
Stefan Wolff | Political Science & International Studies |
Nicola Smith | Political Science & International Studies |
Deema Kaneff | Centre for Russian & East European Studies |
College of Arts & Law |
Martin Stringer | Theology |
Andrew Davies | Theology |
Chris Shannahan | Theology |
Karin Barber | West African Studies |
Erin Sullivan | Shakespeare Inst |
Richard House | Department of English |
Sadiah Qureshi | History & Culture |
Gavin Schaffer | History & Culture |
Jean McHale | Law |
Heather Widdows | Global Ethics |
Dave Gunning | Department of English |
Malcolm Dick | History & Culture |
Dick Ellis | American & Canadian Studies |
College of Life & Environmental Sciences |
Simon Pemberton | Geography |
Johanna Waters | Geography |
College of Medical & Dental Sciences |
Jayne Parry, Head of School | Public Health and Epidemiology |
Kate Jolly | Public Health and Epidemiology |
Paramjit Gill | Public Health and Epidemiology |
Sabi Redwood | Public Health and Epidemiology |