The influx of refugees from the war-torn Middle Eastern countries poses a significant challenge to all European countries. The aim of this international conference is to explore responses to this challenge by experts in migration and asylum policies from Germany, the UK and the Balkans.

Against the backdrop of what is perceived as ‘refugee crisis’, the speakers focus on the following themes: the role emotions of compassion, but also fear which leads to xenophobia with reference to Germany; the desperate plight of women and children along the ‘Balkan route’ who are in need of legal aid and psychosocial and health services, and the reception of refugees in the UK where asylum applicants are produced as clandestine economic migrants.

The conference will be chaired by Prof. Erika Harris.

Conference Programme:

Prof. Annette Jünemann - Emotions matter: German reactions to the 'refugee crisis' between PEGIDA and welcome culture

Dr. Selma Porobić - ‘Experiences of refugees along the Balkan route’

Dr. Lucy Mayblin - The British response to the refugee challenge: A long proud tradition of limiting access to the right to asylum

View the paper abstracts here.

This is a Europe and the World Centre International Conference. For more information about this event please email Professor Erika Harris on poleh@liverpool.ac.uk