About
Abstract: Today’s world sees masses on the move. The ‘figure of the migrant’ (T. Nail 2015) is the protagonist of modernity: across the globe, there are almost one billion migrants; in the EU alone, there are 80 million. This unprecedented global situation requires serious political and social action. Yet this action will only be effective once the historical and cultural roots of migration are properly understood. It is this understanding that the EJD MOVES will provide. The project’s chief objective is to counter anti-immigrant sentiment by training a new generation of experts able to propose innovative solutions based on the knowledge of historical causes and resulting cultural tensions. To achieve this, MOVES will combine the analysis of present problems with an in-depth study of the past. The current crisis will be approached as the outcome of historical processes that originated with the European conquests and expansions of the 15th century, leading to violent conflicts and the subsequent displacements of population. Dividing up the process of migration into five key phases—movements, encounters, transformations, narratives, reception— the EJD will undertake research that is transdisciplinary in ambition, using cutting-edge modes of intellectual inquiry. Each project will be grounded in the dialectic between premodern conditions and postmodern outcomes, combining innovative research and practical application. Together the 15 projects will deliver a cultural history of modern migration. Building on their experience with mobility and international collaboration, researchers will acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to intervene in current debates about global challenges. MOVES will also enhance employability prospects through dedicated partnerships with non-academic organisations, including the cultural and creative industries, and NGOs dealing with migration matters.
Scientific area: History, Cultural Studies, Literature, Heritage, Visual Arts, Cinema, Sociology
Final beneficiaries / target population: European PHD Students
Timeline: 2019-2023
