CfP Panel "The Ambiguities of Temporary Protection: Impact and Dilemmas of Time-Limited Refugee Policies", 2025 ECPR General Conference

Call for papers:

"The Ambiguities of Temporary Protection: Impact and Dilemmas of Time-Limited Refugee Policies"

Section on Migration at the ECPR General Conference 2025

26 – 29 August 2025, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

About the panel:

In response to recent large-scale displacement crises, many European countries have adopted temporary protection policies. These policies significantly affect refugees’ rights, access to resources, and their strategies for integration, aspirations, and future plans. This panel will explore the political motivations behind this shift and examine how the temporary nature of protection shapes the rights and strategies of refugees, particularly Ukrainians and others under temporary protection status.

European temporary protection policies often oscillate between promoting integration and planning for eventual repatriation. Although host countries may encourage initial integration efforts, the emphasis on temporary stay introduces uncertainty, influencing both refugees’ hopes for settlement and the strategic planning of states. By imposing an indeterminate timeline on residence, these policies challenge refugees and supporting services to navigate their immediate needs for integration alongside the potential for future return, positioning them as "liminal" migrants in an ambiguous state.

We invite papers that critically analyze the development of temporary protection policies across European contexts, how they shape national approaches to integration, and how temporary status influences refugees’ social, economic, and political inclusion. We welcome empirical studies utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods, and we especially encourage theoretical contributions to enhance our understanding of the policy decisions made by host states and the impacts of temporary status on refugees and their strategies. Together, these perspectives aim to inform migration governance and protection policies, urging us to consider the balance between immediate responses and long-term impacts in temporary refugee protection frameworks.

Paper submission procedure: To submit a paper for this panel, please email an abstract (up to 250 words) to the panel chairs, Ragna Lillevik (ral@fafo.no) and Ida Kjeøy (ikj@fafo.no), by December 15, 2024. Authors will receive a response by December 20, following the review of all submissions.