Forced Migration and Hunger: Causes, Correlations and Consequences from the Perspective of African and Middle Eastern Countries

Abstract

Migration has been one of the major topics of social science research throughout history which did not only concern political and social science researchers but also economists, historians, lawyers or anthropologists. During the last years most research on migration has been tested because of the dramatic increase in migration flows. This served as an important indicator that there are major changes in and challenges of the sending states resulting in mass migration and consequently affecting the receiving states in several ways as well. The aim of this panel is to discuss, analyze and investigate the reasons behind migration with an intensive focus on hunger as one of the major driving forces contributing to it. The panel focuses on the causes of migration from African and the Middle Eastern states to Europe. Due to the recent, huge number of migrants from these two regions to Europe, the concentration on both regions allows to focus on the causes of migration more specifically. The time frame is from 2011 until 2017. We aim at understanding the relation between domestic changes and the increasing number of migrants to better understanding the changes in Africa and the Middle East resulting in forced migration since 2011. In the panel we will present different case studies, among them, from Sudan, Angola and Zambia with the goal to compare and differentiate our findings. We invited other research and case studies to contribute to our panel and theme and, furthermore, we invite contributions from the perspective of recipient states to better explore the challenges linked to migration. The cases are examined by applying different quantitative and qualitative methods. In addition findings from surveys and interviews will be presented which contribute to information drawn from quantitative research and statistics. The panel invites empirical, theoretical or policy papers that address the causes, consequences and correlation of migration and hunger as separate phenomenon. Proposals should aim at addressing the causes and consequences of migration and hunger resulting in problem identification and/or policy recommendation. A focus on Africa and the Middle East for case study analysis is preferred. The goal of this panel is to bring together scholars from all fields in shaping the policy debate around issues of migration, refugee and hunger in an interdisciplinary manner. The panel also aims at creating awareness on the causes and consequences of migration.