TASA MEM and Social Theory Thematic Groups invite submissions for a half-day symposium exploring the theoretical foundations, current developments, and future directions of migration, ethnicity, and multiculturalism research in Australia and internationally.
Theory is an essential but often underdiscussed dimension of the sociology of migration, ethnicity, and multiculturalism research. The theoretical terrain of these fields is vast and continuously evolving–from foundational thinkers such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Georg Simmel, and Robert E. Park, to the work of Patricia Hill Collins and the diverse contemporary approaches shaping the field today.
Recent theoretical and conceptual shifts in migration studies reflect ongoing debates about how to move beyond narratives and classificatory frameworks that reproduce hierarchical distinctions between both researchers and those they study, and between “migrants” and “non-migrants”. At the same time, migration research continues to be criticised for reproducing Western-centric perspectives and relatively conservative forms of knowledge production. In response, scholars have called for the decolonisation and de-centring of migration studies, alongside more critical and reflexive engagement with the core categories that structure research in the field. These debates are closely tied to efforts to develop concepts that better capture contemporary processes of diversification, multicultural encounters, and (im)mobility. Yet, the speed and breadth of theoretical development presents real challenges for scholars trying to stay current, evaluate competing frameworks, and determine which theoretical tools are best suited to their research questions.
Event Details:
Date: Monday 23rd November 2026
Time: 8:30am - 12:30pm
Location: The University of Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs
Registration: Will open in August 2026
* If you have any questions regarding this event please email: r.akifeva@ecu.edu.au
Keynote Speaker
Professor Amanda Wise Industry/Professional
Fellow, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Call for Papers: Submissions Close 31st July 2026
This symposium treats theorisation as an ongoing, collaborative practice – one where scholars at all career stages actively work through competing frameworks together, test ideas against each other’s research, and collectively identify where existing theory needs to be extended or revised.
The symposium is organised around three interconnected guiding questions that will anchor all sessions:
1. What are the dominant and shifting theoretical frameworks in migration studies, and where do their key tensions lie?
2. How is theory emerging, adapted, or contested within empirical research practices?
3. How might we critically develop and improve upon existing theories and key concepts (such as migration, culture, multiculturalism), and when is such rethinking required?
We welcome presentations addressing topics such as:
? Theorising diversity, settlement, multiculturalism, and belonging
? Theorising data, digital subjectivities, and algorithmic governance
? Critical theory and decolonial approaches to migration and ethnicity
? Theorising racialisation and boundary-making
? Theorisations of transnationalism, mobility, and immobility in an era of global precarity.
The symposium is intentionally designed to be inclusive and accessible across all career stages. All presentations will be delivered in person, with an online attendance option for those unable to travel, subject to availability.
Submit your abstract here
Bursary Applications
Four (4) support bursaries will be provided to assist low- or no-income researchers.
Postgraduate students, casual and/or unwaged researchers who are members of TASA will be invited to apply for a bursary of up to $300 to assist with accommodation, travel, and/or carer costs associated with attending the symposium.
If you wish to apply for a bursary, please include in your expression of interest a short statement (up to 200 words) explaining why you are applying for the bursary and how attending the symposium will benefit your academic development.
Please submit your bursary expression of interest here: Submit Your Bursary Application Here