BROAD-ER International Conference 2025 – Istanbul

BROAD-ER International Conference
Urban Spaces, Migrant Lives: Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries
September 24-26, 2025 in Istanbul

We are delighted to invite papers from scholars and researchers from the fields of migration and urban studies to participate in our upcoming International Conference, organized within the framework of BROAD-ER (Bridging the Migration and Urban Studies Nexus). BROAD-ER is an EU-funded twinning project coordinated by Koç University (Türkiye), Pompeu Fabra University (Spain), and the University of Amsterdam (the Netherlands). The BROAD-ER International Conference offers a unique platform to bridge disciplinary boundaries, fostering dialogue and collaboration to address the complex realities of migration and urbanization.

About the Conference
Cities are increasingly recognized as key actors in migration governance and related issues within both academic and policy discussions. The BROAD-ER International Conference, “Urban Spaces, Migrant Lives: Bridging Disciplinary Boundaries,” seeks to advance discussions on the connections between migration and urban phenomena across multiple dimensions of research and policy. Bringing together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners, the conference will explore the dynamic intersections of migration and urban studies, addressing pressing challenges and identifying future pathways in research and practice.

Over three days, the conference will focus on the following:

The BROAD-ER project’s research themes: Exploring cities’ expanding roles in migration governance across international, national, and local levels. Topics include urban migration diplomacy, decentralized approaches, and grassroots initiatives. Discussions will focus on cities’ influence on international policymaking, their relationships with national authorities, and the role of urban actors such as NGOs and alternative networks.

Further intersections between migration and urban studies: Expanding the scope to examine the intersecting dimensions of migration and urban phenomena. Topics include urban responses to forced migration, environmental challenges, and intersectional perspectives on migration, considering factors such as gender, class, race, and age, as well as the implications of technology for inclusion and surveillance in urban spaces.

Future pathways for bridging migration and urban studies: Charting innovative directions for impactful research at the nexus of these fields. Topics will include emerging research areas, comparative perspectives across and between the Global South and North, and advanced methodologies such as big data analysis and digital ethnography.

For more information, go to broad-er.eu/workshop/international-conference/.