Kurdish Studies Network

The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) welcome you to an interdisciplinary workshop on migration issues in Iraqi Kurdistan. Experienced and early career researchers currently working on issues relating to migration and Iraqi Kurdistan are invited to submit contributions.

The purpose of the workshop is twofold. Firstly, to advance our understanding of migration to Iraqi Kurdistan. This includes but is not limited to

• Return migration from the region and from Europe.
• The sudden and dramatic influx of displaced people in the wake of Islamist political violence and state failure, and its implications for the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
• Labour migration from South East Asia and elsewhere.
• The influx of international and regional companies and their employees, as well asembassies, military and humanitarian personnel, etc.

Secondly, the workshop aims to identify the past, present and future processes of international migration from Iraqi Kurdistan. This includes but is not limited to

• Asylum and reunification migration to Europe.
• New forms of migration to ‘new’ destinations, e.g. business travels to China.
• Kurdish diplomats abroad
• International research fellowships and international student mobility

  Iraqi Kurdistan has undergone major transformations during recent decades, witnessing repression, genocide and ethnic persecution, but more recently also staggering though inequitable economic growth and urban development. Whether it is in spite of or because of the region’s turbulent history, research on migration in Iraqi Kurdistan has remained remarkably absent given its empirical magnitude and theoretical implications. The dearth of substantial research is all the more striking given the recent surge of international interest in the region. As a quasi-state, the study of the KRG could also lend itself to the comparative study of migration in the process of state formation.

  This workshop, in conjunction with the project Possibilities and Realities of Return Migration (PREMIG), aims to bring together researchers working on such issues for a one-day exploratory workshop. The Peace Research institute Oslo (PRIO) will cover accomodation (two nights) and meals during the workshop. A limited number of travel grants are available for participants who are unable to cover their own travel expenses. Applicants in need of such assistance should request it explicitly when submitting their abstract.

  The abstract, up to 250 words, must be sent to erlpaa@prio.no by 24 March 2015. It must be accompanied by the author’s name and affiliation (institution and department), email address, and a brief biography.

  Authors will be notified by 26 March and selected invitees will receive their invitation to participate in the workshop, 8 May 2015. The workshop (presentations and discussions) will be held in English only.

  The organiser particularly encourages the participation of researchers from universities in Iraqi Kurdistan.

  For any further questions or information, please contact:

  Erlend Paasche
  E-mail: erlpaa@prio.no
  Phone: (+47) 47 40 12 16
  Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)