Would an impetus to coordinated migration research be useful to Europe?

European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC) High Level Group for Joint Programming (GPC), Brussels, 12 February 2016.

Jørgen Carling,

Research Professor

Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

Jørgen Carling,

Research Professor

Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)

Broad expertise

• Academic and policy-oriented research• Norwegian and European funding• Consulting for national funders• Destinations and origins• Five European countries • Multiple social-science disciplines

Would an impetus to coordinated migration research be useful to Europe?

Is migration an important issue for Europe?

• Many challenges

• Also opportunities

• Key aspect of societal change

– New policy challenges

– Transformation of old ones

Can migration research make a difference?

TWO TYPES OF ISSUES

RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS

Shared goals that research can help reach

Political dilemmas that have no scientific solution

More women and children

at risk

Reduction of settlement in the long term

Improved integration outcomes

Can migration research make a difference?

New barriers to family

reunification

Deterrence of potential new arrivals

Worsened integration outcomes

More women and children

at risk

Reduction of settlement in the long term

Can migration research make a difference?

New barriers to family

reunification

Can migration research make a difference? Policy

challengeScientific

knowledge

Clarification of real dilemmas

Can migration research make a difference? Scientific

knowledge

Cannot be ‘on demand’

Can migration research make a difference?

Civil society

activism

Party politics

Foreign policy

agendas

Intense media

coverage

Power struggles

Researchwith a strong voice

Is there a foundation of research to build upon?

• Quality?

• Scope?

• Connectivity?

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International Migration, Integration, and Social Cohesion in Europe

Would a coordinated effort give added value?

• Replication is not a problem

• Fragmentation is a problem

• Inefficiency is a problem

• National barriers are a problem

What might be possible research themes?

What might be possible research themes?

• How does immigration policy affect subsequent integration?

What might be possible research themes?

• How does immigration policy affect subsequent integration?

• Is temporary protection of refugees a sound compromise?

What might be possible research themes?

• How does immigration policy affect subsequent integration?

• Is temporary protection of refugees a sound compromise?

• Is the current approach to managing asylum sustainable?

What might be possible research themes?

• How does immigration policy affect subsequent integration?

• Is temporary protection of refugees a sound compromise?

• Is the current approach to managing asylum sustainable?

• What role does communication play in migration management?

What might be possible research themes?

• How does immigration policy affect subsequent integration?

• Is temporary protection of refugees a sound compromise?

• Is the current approach to managing asylum sustainable?

• What role does communication play in migration management?

• How should Europe address increased diversity?

What might be possible research themes?

• How does immigration policy affect subsequent integration?

• Is temporary protection of refugees a sound compromise?

• Is the current approach to managing asylum sustainable?

• What role does communication play in migration management?

• How should Europe address increased diversity?

• How can policy affect the root causes of migration?

www.prio.org/migration

www.jorgencarling.org

jorgen@prio.org

@jorgencarling

Thank you