Migration in migration-related diversity? The nexus between superdiversity and migration studies

Abstract

AbstractThis article argues that the notion of ‘superdiversity’ implies an investigation of diversity that goes well beyond the nature of migration origins and trajectories. To probe the academic value of superdiversity, I situate it within broader academic debates, suggesting that it is necessary to distinguish between superdiversity as a malleable social science concept – a set of variables that researchers conjunctively investigate – and superdiversity as a context in which these variables play out in complex social patterns. I argue that complexity is an integral aspect of superdiversity, before explaining how innovative research methods were used to investigate superdiversity in a dual-site project in London and Toronto in order to explore its relevance for global comparative research.Keywords: superdiversitymigration studiesdiversity studiescomplexitycomparing diversitiesmalleable concept AcknowledgementsThe author would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers as well as Murat Akan, Janine Dahinden, Inês Hasselberg, Tilmann Heil and Linnet Taylor for their valuable and critical comments to earlier drafts of this paper.FundingThe author gratefully acknowledges the support of the Max Planck Institute for the study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity for funding this research.Notes1. The review focused on the paragraph with the citation and on the relevant text sections. Percentages are based on sixty-nine papers published between 2007 and 2012 listed on the Ethnic and Racial Studies site. Not considered were eighteen papers not using the word ‘super(-)diversity’ but citing Vertovec (Citation2007). (I recognize that citations listed on the Ethnic and Racial Studies site are not a complete list of cross-references to Vertovec Citation2007). The full ordered spreadsheet of articles reviewed is available from the author.2. Intersectionality approaches are distinct from superdiversity research, not least because of a differently calibrated focus on gender, but also because intersectionality follows objectives that can to a degree be traced back to the specific moment in the academic debate when this notion was developed (cf. Hancock Citation2007).Additional informationFundingFunding: The author gratefully acknowledges the support of the Max Planck Institute for the study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity for funding this research.Notes on contributorsFran MeissnerFRAN MEISSNER is Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Political and Social Sciences at the European University Institute.