We have saved five seats for researchers from the MigMob-network. If you are interested in participating in the two-day conference, please send an e-mail to Julie Nynne Bune, jnb@cas.au.dk.

Abstract
Over the last decade, persons of Afghan origin have been arriving in Europe in large numbers. Reasons for migration include increasing insecurity and lack of prospects in Afghanistan, and limited opportunities for protection and livelihood in neighbouring countries. Their migration histories are often complex and their journeys arduous. In Europe, recently arrived Afghans are faced with increasing difficulties deriving from restricted access to protection, precarious legal statuses, the looming risk of being deported and overt hostilities. To some extent, hostile perceptions of Afghan arrivals are linked to the military involvement and development initiatives of European states in Afghanistan. Conversely, Afghan diasporas with longer histories in Europe have diverse migration histories and experiences of reception. However, in the lights of recent developments, they are now confronted with some of the same ethnic and religious prejudices with the rise of anti-immigrant populism across Europe.

This joint workshop is organised between the project “ARTlife – articulations of life among Afghan migrants in Denmark” at Aarhus University (Denmark) and the project “(En)gendering Migration, Development and Belonging” based at Neuchâtel University (Switzerland). We invite contributions that explore diverse aspects of the lives of Afghan migrants in Europe, including persons who arrived recently and others who have established themselves in their country of settlement. Specific questions we are interested in include, but are not limited to: 

• What changes and trends in European policies and public debates relating to Afghan migrants and towards Afghanistan can be observed?
• How do Afghan migrants navigate an increasingly restrictive European migration regime?
• How are Afghan migrants’ journeys to and through Europe experienced and shaped?
• What challenges do Afghan migrants face in relation to local and transnational family relations i.e. establishing homes, getting married, raising children, caring for elders, handling burials?
• In what ways do Afghan migrants and persons with Afghan origin engage with host societies, families and friends across the globe, digital communities and their country of citizenship?
• How do Afghan migrants articulate themselves and their visions of the future through art production (poetry, photography, theatre, filmmaking, etc.) and digital media?
• How are the experiences of Afghan migrants shaped by intersecting factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, class and religion?
• How do Afghan diaspora organization and persons of Afghan origin in Europe engage in local and transnational politics and development?

View program and abstracts for the two days below.