CMEPF: ”Refugees Welcome”? Hospitality, Citizenship and the Future for Syrians in Germany

For our second CMEPF meeting of term, Philip Rushworth (Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Cambridge) will be speaking on his proposed research on Syrian Migrants in Germany, before he heads abroad for the next 18 months.

Tuesday 10th May, 1700-1900

Introductory Article: Katerina Rozaku, “The biopolitics of hospitality in Greece: Humanitarianism and the management of refugees

Research Presentation: ”Refugees Welcome”? Hospitality, Citizenship and the Future for Syrians in Germany

Presentation Abstract:  “In this talk I will introduce my PhD research looking at hospitality and citizenship in relation to Syrian migrants and refugees in Germany. ‘Hospitality’ is a term that is frequently used to describe Germany’s response to the so-called ‘refugee crisis’, especially in relation to the Willkommenskultur (culture of welcome) movement. In my ethnographic fieldwork in Germany, beginning in October 2016, I plan to investigate practices of hospitality: German citizens opening their homes to Syrian migrants and refugees. Specifically, I am interested in exploring these practices in relation to discourses of ‘inclusion’ and ‘integration’ of migrants and refugees into German society, which I consider in terms of ‘citizenship’. In this seminar I will discuss why practices of hospitality are interesting to think about and what questions they raise.”