Abstract
Today’s world is experiencing substantial changes. Despite the emergence of innovative forms of claimsmaking, citizens’ empowerment, new modes of public solidarity, and the ever-increasing political mobilisation given the development of communication and technology of information over the last decades, almost two-thirds of the world’s population currently live in autocratic regimes and their political participation is still limited. Moreover, in several countries, the degrees of political polarization are rising, and particularly to this workshop, the differentiated societal polarization around migration seems to follow the same trend. Populist radical right-wing parties are taking part in governments at local, regional and/or national levels impacting migration governance and citizenship policies: The retrenchment of migrants’ rights, restrictive migration policies and policymaking have been salient after their presence in domestic politics. Considering this context, this workshop aims to first reflect on the democratic deficit critically from the perspective of migration and citizenship studies, and second to develop and discuss possible scenarios, pathways and opportunities to overcome it. This workshop may serve as a source of inspiration for civil society stakeholders and policymakers, but overall, intends to be a space of fruitful discussion among scholars and practitioners interested in the intersection between migration, citizenship, and political participation. The workshop proposal is based on a cooperation between IMISCOE and the ECPR Standing Group Migration and Ethnicity, which we are currently coordinating together with our colleagues Daniela Vintila, Roberta Perna and Nawal Shaharyar. Finally, the workshop is also endorsed by the IMISCOE Standing Committee of Migration, Citizenship and Political Participation.