This book launch offers a discussion on the book 'Ambivalent humanitarianism and migration control: colonial legacies and the experiences of migrants in Mexico' recently published by Routledge (February, 2025). This new monograph explores the complexities of NGOs that work closely with asylum seekers and undocumented migrants. These non-state actors have become indisputably relevant and highly regarded as allies to Northern Central American migrants trying to reach the United States. Through an in-depth research in Mexico, this book suggests that these humanitarian organisations are ambivalent institutions because they intend to help and support individuals while reinforcing social and power inequalities. This event will present and critically engage with other interdisciplinary researchers (in the US, UK and Mexico) from across social sciences and humanities to understand power dynamics in the US-Mexican border migrants, humanitarianism and colonial logics.
Objective:
The event seeks to explore the resonances and diversity of experiences on immigration, humanitarianism and colonial logics, with other scholars working in the Latin American region. It will also aim to share some useful advice on how to navigate the publication process for early career researchers (including PhD students).
Speakers:
Erika Herrera Rosales (author) Teaching Fellow at the Sociology department, University of Warwick.
Abril Ríos-Rivera, DPhil candidate in Migration Studies, University of Oxford.
Soledad Álvarez Velasco, Assistant Professor in Latin American and Latino Studies Program and the Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois Chicago.
Javier Perez Sandoval (chair), British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow and a Research Fellow, Department of Political and International Relations, University of Oxford.
