Imagining Europe from the outside (EUMAGINE)

Place: PRIO

Participating PRIO researcher: María Hernández Carretero

EUMAGINE is a collaborative European research project in which PRIO is a partner. The project systematically analyzes migration aspirations and decisions, using a multidisciplinary, mixed-method approach in four major ‘source’ and ‘transit’ countries. Special attention is given to how perceptions of human rights and democracy affect these aspirations. The core idea of the project is that macro- and meso-level discourses on human rights and democracy influence micro level perceptions on these themes in countries of origin and transit, which in turn influence migratory aspirations and decisions. By adopting a case study approach and comparing and contrasting a diversity of important international emigration countries, various types of regions within these countries, several modes of migration, various types of influential discourses, and different profiles of potential migrants, it is possible to make analytical generalizations about how perceptions, aspirations and decisions are formed. The four countries under study are Morocco, Turkey, Senegal and Ukraine. In each country, fieldwork will be conducted in four locations: 1) an area that is characterized by high emigration rates; 2) a second, comparable socio-economic area with low emigration; 3) a comparable area with a strong immigration history; and 4) a location with a specific human rights situation. Fieldwork will combine quantitative surveys and semi-structured interviews.

EUMAGINE is funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme and undertaken by a consortium of the following institutions:

University of Antwerp (UA), Belgium - Co-ordinator
University of Oxford (COMPAS and IMI), United Kingdom
International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), Norway
Koc University, Turkey
Université Mohamed V (UMV), Morocco
Centre of Sociological research (CSR), Ukraine
Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Senegal

The empirical research is undertaken by 'geographical duo teams' consisting of one European and one non-European partner.

Funding: EU