IASFM12: Transforming Boundaries
The 12th conference of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration (IASFM) will be hosted by the University of Nicosia, Cyprus, from 28 June to 2 July 2009. This is the first time in more than a decade that the conference has been held in Europe. The theme of boundaries encompasses a range of connections, links and exchanges that are essential to exploring, debating, understanding and creating policies that respond to forced migration. Borders play a prominent role in forced migration today; definitions of categories of forced migrants such as refugees and IDPs, policies of interdiction and extra-territorial processing, and metaphors of "fortresses" and free-movement all rely upon the notion of a border. Geographically at the border between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, the island of Cyprus possesses its own particular historical experience of forced migration and borders, making it a unique and appropriate location for those working in the field. The conference invites papers that fall within the broad theme of the conference and forced migration more generally. We particularly encourage proposals of organized panels.