Call for art projects
Deadline for submission: February 16, 2025
______
Call for papers
Deadline for abstract submission: October 8th, 2024
Who Needs a Border Wall? Borders, Fences and Walls: Towards a New Research Agenda
International conference organized by the Chaire Raoul-Dandurand – UQAM with the University USMBA
April 17 & 24 2025, online
May 8-9 2025 – Montréal, Québec – Canada
Walls have multiplied alongside research, with abundant publications and diverse approaches. The global landscape has shifted dramatically in the past decade due to various factors, including geopolitical tensions, climate change, migration patterns, and the rise of populism and trumpism. This conference seeks to reassess the dynamics of border fortification, moving beyond traditional views and emphasizing de-securitization processes. We aim to facilitate in-depth discussions in border wall studies and foster an inclusive and multidisciplinary network. We welcome creative proposals and original research, prioritizing innovative approaches and new directions in border studies.
The conference will focus on key questions: What are the driving forces behind the acceleration of this process and its impact? What role does the border wall play in establishing (in)security? How do border fortification and its “technologization” redefine border spaces and mobility? What impact do border walls have not only on the environment but also on human health? What are the implications of data-driven technologies for border fortifications and policy-making? What role does AI play in the contemporary global design of border fortification? What are media representations of the border wall and the role of political frames and language in justifying (re)bordering practices? What stories are considered legitimate, and which are given legitimacy? How can we integrate non-Western/Southern perspectives on mobility affected by walls? How can we decentralize the analysis of border fortification processes? What is the role of academics, civil society and political decision-makers? How can organizations, researchers and activists work collectively and creatively toward a horizon of border justice? Is it time to think of walls in terms of de-securitization and borders in terms of dematerialization? How can we promote a combined research agenda free of extractive logic but guarantee the permanence of multidirectional exchanges? To what extent do the externalization of borders and the extraversion of migration policies play a role in fortifying borders in the South?
We intend to improve our understanding of border walls in a national, regional, and international context by mobilizing multiscalar analysis in innovative ways.
The May 8-9, 2025, conference will be on-site only.
Online Pre-conference panels will be held on April 17 and 24th, 2025
Deadline for abstract submission: October 8th, 2024
Submission guidelines
Please include the following information (300 words):
- Name of authors/contributors
- Institutional affiliations, titles
- Email address
- Title of the paper
- Abstract: Subject, empirical frame, analytical approach, theme (approx. 300 words)
- Preferred format: online pre-conference panel, on-site presentation, on-site poster.
Languages:
We welcome submissions in Arabic, English, French, Spanish – however, all presentations will be in English.
Dates and Deadlines:
OCTOBER 8th, 2024: deadline for submitting abstracts and proposals
JANUARY 2024: proposals selection and notification sent to presenters
MARCH 2025: submission of papers to discussants
APRIL 17 & 24th, 2025: Online Pre-conference panels
MAY 8 and 9, 2025: Conference in Montreal
Send your proposals via email at
bordersandwalls@gmail.com with the heading “2025 conference”