The UoL-UBA Security-Migration network
Collaboration between the Universities of Buenos Aires & Leeds
The International Strategic Research Partnership funding supported a series of three online, bilingual workshops involving knowledge exchange related to the range of interests and methodological approaches used in different disciplines and by individual researchers in the network. Thus far, our collaboration has yielded a comprehensive bilingual bibliography and literature review that distils overlapping themes. This is now the basis of an article, which Emilio Ayos is leading on. Creating a collaborative space that can support bilingual exchange has been at the core of our exchanges. To this end, we have also developed a ‘living resource’ that includes technical and practical guidance on facilitating multi-lingual events. We have also initiated a database of relevant funding opportunities from which we aim to pursue future support to continue the network and develop more focused research proposals. The network combines interests in the rhetoric, politics, policies on immigration and everyday experiences of immigrants in the UK and Argentina. Specific areas of attention include new state and non-state actors in the security-migration nexus; perceptions of police and security as well as the everyday practices of securitization; and the politics of hostility, logics of hospitality, and dynamics of resistance surrounding immigrants and immigration in these contexts.
A key facet of our network has been realizing a commitment to bilingual exchange, this comes from an understanding that communication in the language of common use is significant to the development and production of meaningful research collaboration. Though challenging, we were able to realize this thanks to ethical and practical commitments of network members and the considerable effort and insights of individuals in the wider university community. Beyond the success and commitment to the continued development of this specific research partnership, our experience, learning, as well as the resources developed to facilitate bilingual international collaboration are valuable in the context of the University of Leeds International Strategy and other initiatives to support international collaboration.