Migration and Central Asia: Alternative Perspectives, New Destinations, and Decolonial Approaches

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

The prevailing trend in migration studies has historically centered on Russia, capturing significant attention in the literature and social science research. However, this current panel seeks to shift the focus away from Russia, redirecting attention towards the enduring consequences of decades of migration dynamics and population mobility in Central Asia. To achieve a more comprehensive understanding, the approach to migration studies demands a thorough reevaluation from a multidisciplinary standpoint, necessitating profound discussions on the conceptualization, theorization, and empirics of population mobility in the Central Asian context.
Conventional paradigms that portray countries in Central Asia as heavily dependent on remittances or depict a migrant male leaving the family behind are deemed inadequate in addressing the evolving social practices, institutional transformations, and governmentality inherent in migration processes. The panel endeavors to present a series of works that explore diverse perspectives through novel approaches and data, aiming to disrupt established norms and stimulate a more critical discourse in the field of migration studies in Central Asia.
Among the new perspectives and destination the panel focuses on:
Globalization and Transnational Migration: Central Asians are increasingly moving beyond traditional routes, exploring new destinations globally
Environmental Migration: Climate change and environmental factors also drive migration in Central Asia.
Post-Soviet Legacy: Examining migration in Central Asia through a decolonial lens involves understanding the region's post-Soviet history and how it has shaped migration patterns.
Global Power Structures: Analyzing migration in Central Asia requires acknowledging and critiquing global power structures that influence migration policies, economic relations, and geopolitical considerations.

Sub Unit

• Anthropology, Cultural Studies

Chair

• Aksana Ismailbekova, Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (Germany)

Papers

• Mobilisation of Kinship in the Context of Migration in Central Asia - Aksana Ismailbekova, Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (Germany)

• Aridization, Water Stress, and Droughts: Migration as Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Batken - Asel Murzakulova, U of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan)

Discussant

• Erica Marat, National Defense U