Universities historically propagated racism during colonialism and continue replicating colonial knowledge forms. Migration studies remain shaped by colonialism, with governance operating through post- and neo-colonial power relations. The urgent need for decolonized approaches stems from structural racism in globalized systems.

 

Concepts like “integration” project migrants into subaltern positions and shape discriminatory policies. There’s a clear interconnection between academic knowledge and how migration is governed and perceived publicly. Decolonial perspectives can challenge perceptions of migrants as dangers or burdens, potentially changing treatment by professionals and framing in policy/media.

 

As such, DERM was created with three interconnected goals: analyzing how “the colonial” shapes migration studies through diverse scholarly voices, developing innovative participatory methodologies, and building decolonizing knowledge tools for various audiences beyond academia.

 

The network connects academic centers from Asia (India, Pakistan, Japan), Africa (Tunisia, South Africa), South and Central America (Mexico, Chile, Brazil), and Europe (Belgium, Netherlands). DERM embraces disciplinary diversity including social pedagogy, education, sociology, political sciences, literature, medicine, psychology, anthropology, and law, with members engaging with decolonization aspects regardless of specific expertise.

DERM actively engages with broader academic communities during in-person events, facilitating doctoral student mobility and organizing open lectures for students, scholars, and staff. The network addresses how decolonizing education and research on migration can impact society, particularly challenging Euro-/Western-centric knowledge on migration that fuels racist and discriminatory discourses.

Internally, DERM operates through a horizontal and participatory decision-making model reflecting its commitment to decolonization. While activities vary collegially, DERM maintains several annual fixed gatherings: physical plenary meetings at partner universities at least yearly, semi-plenary meetings to join local events, and online coordination meetings approximately six times annually, with sub-groups meeting periodically as needed.