Immobilities: Space, class and status in Asia

Conveners: Maansi Parpiani, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies

We are surrounded today by images of migration and movement. This is marked not only by physical migration but also by the aspirations of material, class or status mobility. Particularly in Asia, migration for education, marriage and livelihood options has been widely studied (Chakravarty and Chakravarty 2016; Lorente 2017). In addition to trans-national migration, intra-regional and rural – urban migration have been dominant strategies, for individuals and groups seeking to improve life-chances (Meng 2010; Swider 2016).

This focus on migration and mobility is Asia has however foreclosed the range of experiences that maybe characterised by ‘immobility’. This may include experiences counter-intuitive to the linear genealogical narrative of mobility, and discuss the disappointments and failures of projects seeking mobility in Asia. Drawing from the conceptual use of notions of ‘localisation’ in migration studies elsewhere (Bönisch-Brednich and Trundle 2010; Nalbantian 2018; Schnell 2013), the panel also calls for papers that may look at migrant groups as seek to establish themselves at their migratory sites.

The panel invites both historical and contemporary explorations of the conditions of physical, social or economic ‘immobility’ (Götz et al. 2016; Jaffe 2012; Kaur and Sundar 2016; Keshavarz 2018). What makes individuals and groups, not move? Why do they choose to stay? What are the imaginaries of migration among these ‘locals’ who never left? How do they experience notions of missed opportunities, downward mobility or socio-economic stagnancy?

Download abstracts here.

11th Annual International ADI Conference | 18-19 June 2019   

Asian Dynamics Initiative, University of Copenhagen
South Campus, Njalsgade 120, 2300 Copenhagen S