A workshop on Friday, May 24, 2024 at the University of Fribourg. The full-day workshop features an introduction, 7 presentations, a concluding discussion, a lunch break, and 2 coffee breaks.

RSVP (deadline: May 18) by sending an email to Dr. Ansgar Jödicke.

WG2 Meeting and Public Workshop “State and Religious Actors’ Perspectives on Refugees: discrepancies and overlaps in their narratives”.

In recognizing the crucial role played by state actors in refugee politics, the equally significant contributions of religious actors often go unnoticed. This workshop seeks to rectify this oversight by scrutinizing the perspectives of religious actors within the context of political narratives. Its primary goal is to unearth both the points of contention and cooperation between state and religious entities, dissecting their impact on refugee policies. The analysis goes beyond merely acknowledging the supportive role of religious actors in endorsing state policies; it also delves into the potential tensions that may emerge from conflicting narratives.

By systematically revealing areas of convergence and discord, the contributions aspire to provide a sophisticated understanding of the intricate interplay between state and religious actors regarding refugee issues, ultimately fostering a more enlightened and productive dialogue.

The official invitations to COST Action COREnet members for this event are sent out from the e-cost platform. Please do not book travel tickets and accommodation before receiving and accepting an official invitation on the e-cost platform. 

Non-COST Action COREnet members are also welcome to join this public workshop!

Please RSVP with prof. tit. dr. Ansgar Jödicke ansgar.joedicke@unifr.ch before May 18! 

More information here.

Schedule of the Day

• 9:15-9:30 Introduction (Ansgar Jödicke, University of Fribourg, Switzerland)
• 9:30-10:00 Understanding the evolution of refugee narratives in Turkey: From religious solidarity to voluntary return (Rabia Karakaya Polat, Isik University, Turkey)
• 10:30-11:00 Civil Society and Syrian Migration in Turkey: A Tenth Year Assessment (Besim Can Zirh, Middle East Technical University, Turkey)
• Coffee break
• 11:30-12:00 Field Insights: Religious Narratives Shaping Turkey's Refugee Relief Efforts (Gülay Ugur Goksel, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey)
• 12:00-12:30 Discussion Turkey (Egdunas Racius, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania)
• Lunch break
• 13:30-14:30 The Role of Faith-Based Organizations and Integration Policies on Immigrant Groups in Austria (Deniz Cosan Eke, University of Vienna, Austria)
• 14:30-15:30 Czech Republic: The pro- and anti-Immigrant Narratives in Czech Political Discourse: How Politics and the Church Construct the Dichotomy between Human Beings (Vladimír Naxera, Petr Krcál, University of West Bohemia, Czech Republic)
• Coffee break
• 16:00-17:00 Serving the Needs of Others: Religious NGOs' Aid to Refugees in Greece (2015-Present) (Angelo Tramountanis, National Centre for Social Research, Greece)
• 17:00-18:00 General discussion (Ansgar Jödicke)

Note for students: 

Participation in this workshop by BA120 & BA60 students can count towards the "Conférences Thématique" credits. Contact the study counselor for more details and information. 

About COST:

This activity is based upon work from COST Action “Connecting Theory and Practical Issues of Migration and Religious Diversity” (COREnet) CA20107 supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career, and innovation.

www.cost.eu