Panel discussion: Why do people migrate?

Ali R Chaudhary gives a sociological overview of current research on assimilation, multiculturalism and other approaches used to understand dynamics of social organisation and inequality among immigrants and native-born groups in North America and Europe This lecture provides a sociological overview of the current theoretical and empirical research on assimilation, multiculturalism and other approaches used to understand dynamics of social organisation and inequality among immigrants and native-born groups in North America and Europe. The lecture begins with the emergence and development of the concept of 'assimilation' in the United States. This background is then used to introduce three alternative theoretical approaches that challenge the theory and empirical processes associated with assimilation: transnationalism, multiculturalism and racialization. The lecture then introduces the idea of global racialization in order to compare the empirical and theoretical literature on Muslim immigrant integration in North America and Europe. The key argument I make in this lecture is that immigrants as well as most ethno-religious minority groups are incorporated into new and/or pre-existing social hierarchies that reflect racialized hierarchies. That is, group ascriptions (i.e. phenotype, language, citizenship status, religion) operate as structural principles of social organisation that ultimately determine outcomes and processes associated with immigrant integration in traditional assimilationist receiving societies such as the U.S. as well as official multicultural societies (Canada) and postcolonial societies like France and the UK. The theoretical and conceptual components of the lecture are supported with several empirical studies from North America and Europe as well as my own scholarship on immigrant self-employment and migrant organizations.

In this Migration Studies lecture, Sarah Spencer (COMPAS, University of Oxford) examines the place of research in policy making by focusing on the role of social scientists and how they can stay in control of their research (6 December 2013)

In this lecture for the MSc in Migration Studies, Professor Michael Keith (Director of COMPAS, University of Oxford) discusses how ideas travel as well as people. The lecture was delivered 12 November 2013.

Dace Dzenovska (COMPAS, University of Oxford) focuses on the political, economic and cultural community of Latvia to investigate the public recognition of intolerance in Europe. An Anthropology departmental seminar from 25 October 2013.

Professor Bridget Anderson discusses her research interests and teaching migration at Oxford in this interview with doctoral student Carolin Fischer. In this podcast, Bridget describes how her interest in migration developed from being raised a second generation migrant, how her work has evolved, her current research interests and new book 'Us and Them'. Professor Anderson also discusses her teaching on the MSc in Migration Studies course and what students benefit by studying at Oxford.

In this podcast, Emeritus Professor Robin Cohen shares how he first became interested in migration through his own experiences as a migrant. As a leading scholar in the field of diaspora, Robin provides some insight into the field and expands on his current work in creolisation. In this interview with doctoral student Carolin Fischer, they also discuss the value of studying migration at the University of Oxford and Robin's teaching on the MSc in Migration Studies course.

Professor Michael Keith shares some insight into his research interests, how he first became interested in migration and his involvement in the MSc Migration Studies course. In this interview with doctoral student Carolin Fischer, they also discuss the work of the Centre on Migration, Policy, and Society (COMPAS) of which Michael is the current director.

In this podcast Farhan Samanani interviews MSc Migration Studies lecturer Dr Evelyn Ersanilli to find out more about her research, and the advantages of studying migration and working at the University of Oxford. The discussion includes Evelyn's research interests, some interesting aspects of her work and research, and some insights about working at Oxford.

MSc Migration Studies course convener, Dr Xiang Biao provides some insight into the course in this interview with doctoral student Carolin Fischer. The discussion includes how Biao first became interested in migration, studying at Oxford and the wide ranging research and strength of migration experts at the University of Oxford.

This podcast presents a panel discussion on 'why people migrate', convened as part of the introductory lecture of this MSc course. The panel consista of Carlos Vargas-Silva (Economics), Bridget Anderson (Politics), Franck Düvell (Sociology), Mette Berg (Anthropology), Cathryn Costello (Law), and Sarah Spencer (Policy) - all teaching staff for the degree - they present different perspectives on the topic of migration and explore key themes that arise throughout the MSc.