Call for Papers: Irregular Migration in Asia

The Centre of Asian Studies (CAS), at the University of Hong Kong, is convening a new phase of workshops focused on Asian regionalism. These workshops build on the highly successful China-ASEAN and China-India Roundtables that have been running since 1998 and 2001, respectively; with the overall objective of fostering and enhancing regional academic dialogue and policy exchanges. The first workshop was held in Hong Kong in December 2005 on the topic of Governance and Regionalism in Asia. The second workshop will be held on the 7th and 8th of December 2006 in partnership with the Asian Center, University of the Philippines.

The second workshop in this series aims to explore the emerging forms and modalities of contemporary irregular migration in Asia, with a focus on the patterns and substance of illegal migration, people smuggling and human trafficking. As the East Asian region has integrated for the greater good of its peoples, markets and states new challenges have emerged. The increased intra-regional movement of people for work or pleasure is one manifestation of closer ties between the countries of Asia. But just as the 1997 Asian financial crisis was a negative manifestation of closer economic ties between regional states, so too the illegal movement of peoples across national borders is a challenge arising from the closer links between regional peoples and societies.

Irregular migration is one of the main criminal offences of the 21st century. In its most benign manifestation it involves the subversion of legal and regulatory regimes in multiple countries or jurisdictions. While the act of human trafficking, along with that of narcotics and small arms, earns criminal organisations and their customers billions of dollars in direct and indirect revenues. In the Asia-Pacific there are significant flows of illegal migrants for labour and/or sexual exploitation, both intra-regionally as well as to other parts of the world. These flows are driven by both supply and demand factors within a general environment of regional and global economic disparities for many of the source and transit countries.

We are now calling for paper abstracts for this workshop. Papers should be interdisciplinary in nature and could explore (but are not limited to):
Ø Theoretical and Historical Perspectives on Irregular Human Flows in Asia
Ø Comparative Domestic Approaches to Illegal Migration
Ø Case studies of Northeast, Southeast and South Asian Patterns
Ø Extra-regional Flows
Ø Role of Regional Institutions and International Organisations

For more information on these topics and what subthemes are being sought, see the website.

Successful applicants will be invited to participate in the Workshop to be held in Manila. Dependent on final confirmation of funding, travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the organisers. It is intended that the papers will be published either as a special issue of a major academic journal or an edited volume and so will be expected to be in the order 7-9,000 words.

The co-organisers invite the submission of Paper Proposals on the above themes. Proposals should not exceed 1500 words. A one-page CV, including a list of recent relevant publications, should also be submitted at the same time. The closing date is Friday 31 March 2006. E-mail applications are preferred.

Please send paper proposals and CV to:
Asian Regionalism Project
Centre of Asian Studies
The University of Hong Kong,
Pokfulam Rd, Hong Kong SAR
E-mail: Ms Louise Mak lypmak@hku.hk
Web Site: www.hku.hk/cas/