A major international conference on migration took place this week, attracting economists, legal scholars, political scientists, historians and policy-makers from all over the world to Cambridge.

The conference, sponsored by the University of Cambridge's Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH), took place at New Hall on July 5 and 6. It was convened by David Feldman of CRASSH and Birkbeck, University of London. Speakers included Seyla Benhabib of Yale, currently a CRASSH visiting Fellow and Leo Lucassen of the University of Amsterdam.

Dr Feldman commented on some of the issues raised:

"Immigration to rich countries raises a series of contentious moral and practical issues. How many immigrants should countries admit and according to what criteria should they be selected? What are the economic, legal and political entitlements owed to migrants? What responsibilities do receiving states owe those who are kept out and their mostly poor countries of origin? To what extent does immigration challenge concepts of citizenship and national identity?"

CRASSH is a focus for local, national and international enquiry into the arts, social sciences and humanitites. It aims to:

  • Promote interdisciplinary research in the arts, social sciences and humanities.
  • Foster an inclusive environment built around collaboration.
  • Provide a place for serious, open-minded discussion about difficult and pertinent cultural and intellectual issues.
  • Attract the participation of scholars, those working in the sciences and creative arts, and people from professional and public life.
  • Forge relationships with institutions all over the world.
  • Support researchers at all stages of their careers.

CRASSH was established on January 1 2001. The Newton Trust, St John's College, and the Vice-Chancellor's Strategic Reserve Fund have generously supported the Centre. A major goal is now to obtain further external funding to establish the Centre on a permanent footing and support the growth of its activites.

David Feldman is Convenor of the CRASSH programme on migration. He is Reader in History at Birkbeck, University of London and an editor of History Workshop Journal. He is the author of Englishmen and Jews: Social Relations and Political Culture 1840-1914 (Yale University Press, 1994) and has published a series of essays on migrants and immigrants in modern Britain. He is currently completing a book-length study with the working title The Rights of Strangers: Migrants, Immigrants and Welfare in England since 1600.


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you use this content on your site please link back to this page.