International Research Centres
The Institute for the Study of International Migration (Georgetown University, Washington, DC) affiliated with the Georgetown Law Center, provides analyses of international migration, and networks with other U.S. and foreign universities to foster research exchanges and cooperative projects. As the new site of the Secretariat of the International Association for the Study of Forced Migration, ISIM’s capacity to network internationally with scholars engaged in refugee and migration issues will enhance the Global Knowledge Cluster considerably. ISIM will host student researchers, facilitate faculty exchanges, meetings of the partners in Washington, and disseminate via their website and the journal International Migration. (Susan Martin, Director & Donald G. Herzberg Chair in International Migration).
The Forced Migration Studies Programme (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg) is an Africa-oriented and African-based centre of excellence for research and teaching that shapes global discourses on migration, development and social transformation. It is dedicated to forming an Africa-wide network of migration and displacement scholars.(Loren Landau, Director).
The Refugee Studies Centre (University of Oxford) has an international reputation as a leading multidisciplinary centre for research and teaching on the causes and consequences of forced migration. RSC combines academic research, international cooperation and capacity building with a commitment to improving the lives and situations of refugees. In addition, the RSC’s Forced Migration Online initiative will provide an invaluable resource for all those involved in the Global Network.
The Mahanirban Calcutta Research Group is well-known for its research, dialogues, and advocacy work in the scholar-activist world on autonomy, human rights, women’s dignity, forced displacement and migration, peace and conflict resolution, citizenship, borders and border-conflicts, and other themes relevant to democracy. The Calcutta Research Group has developed a strong network of scholars, activists and institutions that will contribute to the Global Knowledge Cluster. (Ranabir Samaddar, Director & Professor).
The Forced Migration and Refugee Studies Program (The American University in Cairo) has an extensive electronic library on refugee and refugee-related topics. The program’s extensive research projects, education programs, directories of services for refugees and numerous publications will contribute to the development of the Global Knowledge Cluster.
The Institute for Ethnic, Governance and Law (Griffith University, Brisbane) is a joint initiative of the United Nations University and Griffith University in association with the Australian National University. IEGL conducts various projects on issues related to refugees, migrations and forced migration, including a project in Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka; a project on the ethics of intervention; a project on the conception of sovereignty (linked to Princeton University and the United Nations); a Government Research Network project which they could link directly to the Global Knowledge Cluster.
The Group on Political Theory and Legal Theory (Javeriana University, Bogotá) was formed in 2001 by the Javeriana Pontifical University in Bogotá and members of some other law faculties and recognized by the National System of Research Groups (SCIENTI) to address the complex problems of the Colombian reality from the perspective of legal theory, postcolonial studies, and a global approach. Their two principal foci are; i) the cultural studies of law, including projects concerning legal interpretation, judicial practice, the Colombian armed conflict, exceptionality, history of prisons, and the history of legality in Colombia and Latin America and ii) globalization and law, including participation on projects of contemporary legal systems, contemporary human rights law, politics, and migrations. (Roberto Vidal-López, Director & Professor).
The Division of Population Research in the Institute of Social Studies and Research (University of Tehran) undertakes demographic research related to population and sustainable development in Iran, including issues of gender, poverty and refugee issues which intersect with population and development. Their research aims to build national capacity including development and human resources and promotes networks between local, regional and global research institutions by sharing experiences and research outcomes. They have developed strong ties with organizations outside Iran such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) in Afghanistan, and the Demography Program of Australian National University. (Mohammad Jalal Abbasi-Shavazi, Chair & Associate Professor).
