Antiracism/Migration
Gender, Feminism, Antifeminism, and Imperialism
Notes from a Gender History Perspective on the Current Debates Around Male Immigrant Attitudes Towards Women
The Left and Immigration
After the latest drama in Lampedusa, where more than 350 immigrants, mostly Eritreans, perished 600 metres from the Italian coast, the immigration policies of the European Union and its member states are more than ever under scrutiny.
Immigration Policies in Italy – Rights, Movements and Imprisonment
This brief article proposes to do three things: first, to delineate the main features of immigration policies in Italy; second, to evaluate the effects of these features; and third, to outline a concise balance sheet of the political choices made and possible developments Part one: Entrance...
European Migration Policy – Too Much of the Same
When in a European context immigration is talked about it usually does not take long before the name FRONTEX pops up. Migration is mostly mentioned in the same breath as "illegal" and "illegal immigration" – the term is unambiguous – must be fought. That is the point at which FRONTEX, the agency for...
Immigration is Good, Immigration is Bad, Migration IS (A Fact)
This contribution to debate from our 2012 journal describes how the European discourse on migration (as a fact that has always been happening) can and should be understood in the broader context of class struggles, instrumentalised for identity politics.
The Migrations of Roma in the European Union – an Ethnic Minority as the Sport of European Politics
France is sending Roma back to Romania, Roma are "voluntarily" leaving the country to go to Macedonia, Czech Roma are seeking asylum in Canada – these headlines of recent years have repeatedly drawn the eyes of the public to the migrations of Roma in Europe. The resulting debates emphasise the legal...
"Seeing Things Their Way": The Contemporary Immigrant Experience in Europe
Seeing things their way" is Quentin Skinner's fundamental methodological exhortation. Skinner advances interpretations of specific political or moral beliefs by placing them in the context of other beliefs, the interpretation of political choices and systems of perceptions by locating them in...
How Can We Win? Popular Classes As a Key Factor In The Struggle Against the Deportation Of Asylum Seekers In Israel
In his Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, Marx analyses the rise of a reactionary demagogue as an expression of the sharpening of social contradictions in mid 19th-century France. As in present times, conservative tendencies within the popular classes have played a key instrumental role there....
Joint Statement on the EU- Western Balkans Summit in Tirana
On the occasion of the Western Balkans Conference in Tirana on December 6 2022, we publish here the "Belgrade Conference Joint Statement on Open Borders: Building Alliances for the Right to Migrate!"
"The Climate Crisis Is a Crime with Clear Perpetrators"
Carola Rackete on the climate emergency, migration, and just forms of environmental conservation.
The Victims on Europe's Eastern Borders
A humanitarian emergency is once again developing on the European Union's borders: Refugees find themselves trapped between Poland and Belarus as Polish government takes increasingly aggressive action and even declared the state of emergency in two of its regions.
Former Mayor of Riace Sentenced to 13 Years of Prison
Last Thursday, the court of Locri (Calabria) sentenced the 63-year-old Domenico "Mimmo" Lucano to 13 years and 2 months of prison for 'aiding and abetting illegal immigration' and related charges.
Solidarity with Afghanistan
Read the statement of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE) on the current situation in Afghanistan, in which it condemns the military intervention as it serves to strengthen reactionary nationalist positions and calls for any foreign policy to be based on respect for human rights and the sovereignty of all states.
Finally Some Visibility for Illegal Austrian Pushbacks!
In a groundbreaking court ruling earlier this month, exclusively translated on behalf of transform! europe, the Regional Administrative Court of Styria (Southeast Austria) upheld the complaint by a young Moroccan man who was pushed back by the Austrian border police and declared this practice illegal and inhumane.
Report from 'Fortress Europe': the annulment of the right to asylum by the European Union and its Member States
The latest accusations against Frontex for human rights abuses are the culmination of a process of dehumanisation, also with pushbacks, Lipa and Moria as its manifestations – as well as the little known EU Migration Pact presented by the Commission in September.
Limits to Access to Asylum Along the Balkan Route
Refugee Rights Europe presents a study to provide an overview of the situation pertaining to access to asylum in the countries along the 'Balkan Route'.
Because it's still necessary – the MICAR Anti-Racist Film Festival, 2020 edition
Supported by transform! europe, this year's edition of MICAR was back in Porto, at the Rivoli Municipal Theatre.
Some insights from the OPEN BORDER CONFERENCE: Creating Shared Spaces of Struggle
Supported by transform! europe, the OPEN BORDER CONFERENCE took place in Vienna in the context of the Wienwoche festival for art and activism 2020.
The living ashes of Portuguese colonialism
Lisbon, November 2017: Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa speaks at the 9th edition of the Web Summit, the world's largest tech event that, every year, welcomes thousands of participants. At the opening session, Costa recalled Fernão de Magalhães (Ferdinand Magellan), the Portuguese explorer...
Call for the Immediate Evacuation of Moria
In the face of the terrible and life-threatening situation of the 12,500 refugees and asylum seekers on Lesbos, transform! europe, together with various NGOs and intellectuals throughout Europe and worldwide, supports this call for an immediate evacuation of Moria.
Moria Is On Fire: Evacuate Refugee Camps Now!
Fire has destroyed Greece's largest migrant camp, the overcrowded Moria facility on the island of Lesbos. The Party of the European Left (EL) demands a removal of the Dublin Regulations and the establishment of legal and safe humanitarian corridors.
Black Lives Matter: Let's fight together against racism and the factors that allow it
Read the press release of the European Forum 2020.
On Social Reproduction and the Covid-19 Pandemic — Seven Theses
Read the analysis of the Marxist Feminist Collective.
A Catastrophe About to Happen
An unorthodox chronology of the last 4 weeks at the European border.
Refugees cycling from Frankfurt to Brussels to raise awareness of those trapped in Libya
Last week, a group of refugees arrived in Brussels to hold a demonstration outside the European External Action Service, European Council and the European Commission, after they cycled the 475-kilometre route from Frankfurt, aiming to raise awareness of the situation of asylum seekers currently trapped in Libya.
FRONTEX's Unchecked Power Grab Endagers Human Rights
A vote that gives the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) unprecedented powers overwhelmingly recently passed in the European Parliament – giving this opaque EU body unrivalled powers and unchecked accountability.
The Migration World Pact: Wishes and Realities
Numerous political leaders from all over the world are gathered these days in Marrakech, under the auspices of the UN, to sign a new migration agreement: the Global Compact for Migration. Migration has become one of the political priorities at a global scale and the richest areas of the world are all adopting similar xenophobic measures.
In Saving Migrants We Save Ourselves
The migrant issue has become a decisive test for all those on the Left who campaign for the emancipation of the people and equal rights for all. Far from protecting existing rights, any concession to to the favouring of one nationality over others or to policies based onborders and identity, will simply help the cause of the extreme right.
Manifesto for the Welcoming of Migrants
The editorial boards of Regards, Politis and Mediapart are joining forces to launch the "Pour l'accueil des migrants" manifesto to welcome migrants. It has been initially signed by 150 intellectuals, artists, activists, unionists and prominent members of civil society - tenth of thousands followed.
The Transit Migration Situation in Serbia
Marta Stojić Mitrović, speaker at this year's Summer University of EL and transform! europe on the transit migration in Serbia, the Serbian migration politics and the connection to the EU migration regime.
Strengthening Migrant Rights in Post-Brexit Britain
Post financial crisis, the most persistent scapegoats for many parts of society has been migrants and refugees. Used by mass media, politicians and common people alike, the problems of Europe have been condensed in the spiteful image of the 'others'.
Launching "Colours of a Journey"
A new cultural and memory project on migration was launched on 20 June. The platform was designed to collect and exhibit paintings and illustrations – or "stories" – of refugee and migrant children who are now living in different countries of Europe.
Racist state propaganda, migration policy and authoritarianism
On 2 October, a national referendum was held on the EU's refugee quota system and Hungarian migration policy, in a climate dominated by racist state propaganda. While an overwhelming majority of voters rejected the EU's migrant quotas (98%), turnout was too low (43%) to render the poll valid. The government is still calling the referendum a success and wants to amend the Constitution accordingly.
"Beyond the Refugee Crisis – Studying in Europe"
The summer school "Beyond the Refugee Crisis – Studying in Europe" was held in Olympia on 18-28 August and saw Greek university students and young refugees come together. The initiative was supported by Sia Anagnostopoulou, Greek deputy minister for education, in partnership with the European Council and with the support of the Faculty of Philosophy of Athens University.
2nd Sabir Festival of Mediterranean Culture // Pozzallo 2016
The International Sabir Festival of Mediterranean Culture took place for the first time in Lampedusa in October 2014. The idea was to create a space that explores the potential social, economic and cultural dynamics around the Mediterranean, promotes a new identity for the region by combining local culture, innovative practices of hospitality and development and shifts the focus of discussion to the periphery.
The Best Hotel in Europe
The City Plaza is a hotel located in the heart of Athens. It was a symbol of the Greek crisis. For years it was closed because the owner could no longer pay out wages. Today, City Plaza is open again and fully occupied. The new guests come from around the world: from Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
The Renationalisation of Politics
An interview about the refugee crisis with Sandro Mezzadra, an expert on migration and Associate Professor of Political Theory at the University of Bologna.
The Refugee Crisis Is Not Gender Neutral
Independently of the concrete threats, women are facing if they have to flee (internal displacement as well as seeking refuge in neighbouring countries or in the EU), the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is protesting against the root causes of war and violence which force them to flee.
A left-wing refugee policy for the EU
Thesis 1: Century of Refugees The 21st century will be the Century of Refugees. Today, 91 percent of the migrants arriving in Greece are war refugees from countries like Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Due to civil wars and climate catastrophes many more people will be forced to leave their homes...
Political discourses and key elements of the refugee crisis
The so called refugee crisis and related discursive strategies have at least four key elements, namely the conflicts of the regions from where refugees come; change in the migratory position of Europe; overall structures of European identity and related political manoeuvring, and the direct debates over modes of handling the refugee waves.
Global migration crisis and Europe: Whose crisis is it?
INTERSECTIONS.EEJSP, an online quarterly published by the Centre for Social Sciences of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences has recently issued a call for papers on the current questions regarding migration.
European Intellectuals Call for Solidarity with Refugees
An appeal launched intellectuals in solidarity with the refugees.
Securitization "from above", Solidarity "from below"
What are the political problems, demands and arguments in relation to the migration and asylum policy crisis and the refugee/ solidarity movement? Some thoughts and a report of a movement's meeting.
We need to talk about Cologne
Following the events that took place in Germany lately, the Greek Forum of Refugees in cooperation with ECRE and the Greek Forum of Migrants prepared a statement the following statement which we support.
Political consequences of migration from the leftist perspective - Central Europe
transform! europe and the Czech "Society for European Dialogue" (SPED) organised a workshop in Prague on the leftist, Central European perspective on the topic of migration and refugees.
How we can be more conscious of our language on refugees and migration.
#ausnahmslos | #noexcuses
Petition against sexualised violence and racism, launched by feminist bloggers, authors and activists from Germany after attacks against women in Cologne on New Years eve
Climate change is set to become the biggest driver of future migration
200 million people will be forced to flee their homes over the next 30 years if climate change continues at the same pace.
Open The Doors, No To Walls
After the Paris attacks, Europe is closing its borders. The volunteers of the Balkans migrants route react by proposing a European day of action on 18 December to "open the doors".
From the Borderregime's Periphery to its Heart
Report on the situation in the refugee camp in Calais and the OX15! mobilisation in Brussels mid October.
"Europe, please act!"
Refugee supporting volunteer groups all over Europe demand in an open letter action of the European governments urgently.
Back to the East?
The refugee crisis and immigration has opened up old divisions and created new ones between "the West" and "the East" within the European Union. How can this be understood beyond superficial media-ascribed labels?
Solidarity has no borders
A caravan of hope, solidarity and humanity against Fortress Europe.
Europe does not have a 'migration problem': it has a xenophobia problem
This year, Europe has experienced a growing influx of people who are fleeing from civil wars and failed states. According to the International Organization for Migration, approximately 350,000 people arrived in Europe by sea between January and August 2015 (compared to 219,000 for the whole of 2014): nearly 235,000 in crisis-ridden Greece, 114,000 in Italy and little over 2,000 in Spain.
Refugee crisis and Hungary
Before the current refugee crisis Hungary's immigration policy focused on the fight against illegal migration, but an explicit overall migration strategy was blatantly lacking.
Freedom Not Frontex
The "March for Freedom" marched for one month against the EU's migration and border regime from Strasbourg to Brussels, where 400 activists have met in an Action Camp. There are protests in many countries, the refugee movement is transnational.
Refugee Protests and the Right to the City in Hamburg
While racism rages through much of Europe, Hamburg is experiencing the opposite: a broad movement for refugee rights combined with a struggle for the right to the city.
Lampedusa: Stop fighting refugees!
The European Left Party (EL) is horrified and deeply concerned by the tragic deaths of at least 300 refugees in the Mediterranean close to the island of Lampedusa.
Fires at the Periphery of Stockholm
Mid May, Stockholm suburbs have been ablaze with fires. Cars have been torched in suburbs around the city and when the fire-fighters and police arrive they have been met by youths throwing stones. Why this? Why now? How come in Sweden?
Strawberry Fields in Greece: Exploitation and Racism
At least 28 strawberry field workers from Bangladesh were transferred to hospital with injuries on 17 May after being shot by the "foremen" of their employer. The incident occurred at 6 p.m. on the 41st kilometer of the highway between Patras and Pyrgos in Peloponnese.
"We Migrate To Live, No More Deaths, No More Missing People"
On occassion of the Global Day of Action Against Racism and for the Rights of Migrants, Refugees and Displaced People on 18 December we publish the Call by the Global Migrants Action.
300 Immigrants on Hunger Strike in Greece
Call for Solidarity
Regarding "The Return Directive"
Letter from Evo Morales regarding proposed new European Union Immigration policies: Until the end of the Second World War, Europe was a continent of emigrants. Tens of millions of Europeans came to the Americas to colonize, escape hunger, financial crisis, wars, European totalitarianisms and the...
At the Heart of Fortress Europe
The study provides a broad mapping of Austrian-based multilateral cooperation, actors, and or­ganisations that are heavily involved in EU border externalisation policies far beyond Austrian borders – and therefore in the violent and sometimes lethal approach to people on the move.
Riace: Local Impact of a Case of Self-Valorisation of Migrant Labour in the Frame of the Global Compact
In this publication, the authors present a multidisciplinary analysis of the case of Riace and the broader context of Italian migration policies.
The Militarisation of the European Union
Since the Brexit decision, the only political project that the neoliberal elites in the EU and its member states are pursuing is the multidimensional militarisation of the EU. In this situation, transform! europe has gathered a collective of authors to stimulate discussion among European left parties and movements about this daring development.
For a New Approach to Migration
There is a need to construct a new narrative for the issue of migration in order to move away from the populist and right-wing discourse which is being spread across Europe, by placing migration in its correct historical and geographical context so as to remove the negative portrayal of migration which feeds people's fears.
A left-wing response to the asylum crisis and migration policy
This Policy Advice Paper comprises an overview on the current situation of migration and asylum policy in the EU, policy recommendations and proposals for structural measures. All in a brief, precise and accurate way.
Practices of Securitisation and Externalisation of EU Border Regime Future Scenarios and Resistance
The conference discusses the materialisation of the securitisation and externalisation of border zones in different geographies and their transnational entanglements. It asks how the securitisation policy of the EU border regime is strategically planned and implemented, where it fails and how one can resist these mechanisms of violence.
In this webinar we discuss the particular experience of democratic self-government of migration that has developed in Riace (Calabria), an interesting case study for understanding the evolution of the migration phenomenon in Italy.
Poland, Europe: Democracy, Borders, Gender Rights
transform! italia and Media Alliance organise a discussion about the main topics that are emerging in Poland nowadays and about the relationship between national constitutions and the European Union.
(RE) Imagine Our World. transform! europe at the 2nd IPB World Peace Congress
transform! europe takes part in the World Peace Congress organised by the International Peace Bureau (IPB), the oldest and largest international peace network.
2021 MICAR
This year's edition of the anti-racist international film festival MICAR focuses on decolonisation and memory, to make visible the voices and bodies of those whose memories and visions have been kept in the fringes.
Migration Worldwide: Left-wing Strategies, Migrant Actors and Capitalist Interests from the Sixteenth Century to the Present
56th ITH Conference, organized by the International Conference of Labour and Social History (ITH)
Few topics are as politically charged as "international migration". The 56th ITH Conference seeks to discuss the issue from a global and historical perspective.
The Horizon of Black Lives Matter
Co-organised by transform! europe, this webinar is dedicated to the question on how Black Lives Matter (BLM) can connect with Marxist Feminism in a global perspective. Watch the full video.
Open Border Conference. Creating Shared Spaces of Struggles: Refugee Support and No Border Activism in Times of Fortress Europe
transform! europe at the 2020 Wienwoche festival for art and activism in Vienna.
Commons vs. "Normality". Global Capitalism, Commodity Chains and Migration after Covid-19
Watch the full webinar of transform! europe's Commons Working Group.
Refugees in the Balkans and the Covid-19 Pandemic
The second webinar of the Refugees and the Covid-19 crisis series took place on Monday, 20 April, 18:00–20:00 (CET), focusing on the developing situation in the Balkan countries.
Greek Refugee Camps and the Covid-19 Crisis
Κaterina Anastasiou, transform! europe, discussed with the Director of Amnesty International Greece and the activist of the civil society rescue mission Mediterranea:saving humans, on the current life-threatening situation for refugees and migrants in Greece. Watch the full webinar.
In the Heart of Fortress Europe: Austria's Role in Border Externalization Policies in the Western Balkans
Presentation and discussion with the researchers Nidžara Ahmetašević and Klaudia Wieser, in cooperation with the European Institute for Progressive Cultural Policies (EIPCP). Watch the full recording.
The Normalisation of Pushbacks at the EU Borders
This is the second webinar of the series: "Resisting the normalization of Pushbacks".
Pushbacks at the EU Borders. Legal Litigation as Activism
This is the first edition of the webinar series "Resisting the normalization of Pushbacks". We will discuss different cases of legal litigation against documented pushbacks all across Europe and explore the strategic importance of documentation and legal mitigation for stopping these inhumane practices.
Racism and War: Breaking the Cycles of Violence
This workshop was held in the framework of the World Peace Congress organised by the International Peace Bureau (IPB), the oldest and largest international peace network.
Migration and Refugee EU Policies - A Dark Stain in The European Narrative. Alternative Proposals For A Sustainable And Creative Coexistance
Organised by the Migration Working Group of the Party of the European Left and the network Solidarity for All, this webinar takes place in the framework of the European Forum 2021.
Othering the Other: Migration and Media Disinformation
In this webinar we will discuss the nexus between fake news, misinformation and migration. We will explore the impact of fake news in the migration discourse, and also give insights on the mechanics of fake news and how they are weaponized by far right and fascist groups.
Sea Rescue in the Mediterranean in Times of the Covid-19 Pandemic
Watch the full recording of the webinar on the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for the renunciation of the EU's responsibility towards migrants on boats in distress in the Mediterranean.