The largest European migration research conference, organized under the umbrella of the IMISCOE network, took place in Paris 1 – 4 July. This year’s conference, titled Decentering Migration Studies, brought together hundreds of scholars from across Europe and beyond to engage in critical dialogue on contemporary migration research.
Dr. Emina Bužinkić, a researcher at the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), delivered an invited presentation in the Special Session “Race in Migration Studies: Concepts, Approaches and Methodologies.” This session was organized by the Standing Committee on Race, Ethnicity and Discrimination (SC RACED) and aimed to critically examine two central issues: 1) the use of dominant migration categories – often shaped by administrative and bureaucratic labels – which risk reinforcing racialized classifications that underpin unequal access to rights and material resources; and 2) the dynamics of whiteness and white privilege within migration research itself, and how acknowledging these power differentials can enhance the rigour and equity of scientific inquiry.
Dr. Bužinkić presented her ongoing research on race and refugeeness, contributing to a rich discussion alongside distinguished scholars from the field. The session explored key questions such as: Which conceptual frameworks best advance critical understandings of the intersections between race and migration categorizations? How can researchers avoid reproducing racialized categories in their work? And how might methodological approaches be revised to promote more reflexive and equitable research practices?
Dr. Bužinkić’s participation at IMISCOE was supported by the ENDURE project, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation, underscoring IRMO’s active engagement in cutting-edge migration studies and critical social research.
