Mercator Forum for Migration and Democracy

The Mercator Forum on Migration and Democracy (MIDEM) examines how migration shapes democratic policies, institutions and cultures and is shaped by them at the same time. It examines forms, instruments and processes of political processing of migration in democratic societies - in individual countries and in a comparative view of Europe. Central aspects of the research project are the perception of migration by democratic societies, the social fault lines that become visible as a result and potential coping strategies.

The effects of migration on democratic discourses, stakeholders and cultures were analyzed and a European map of political and socio-cultural conflicts was created. Subsequently, since 2021, MIDEM has been focusing on the democratic processing of migration, on institutional control and interaction processes and on the role of civil society actors.

MIDEM investigates:
- Belonging, identity and cohesion
- Political and social polarization
- National governance of migration
- Local governance of migration

MIDEM's mission is to
- to promote national and international networking and interdisciplinary communication on migration.
- to produce regular country reports and cross-sectional studies on key issues at the interface between migration and democracy.
- to develop pan-European recommendations for the democratic handling of migration.
- to advise European, national and local policy-makers and civil society.

Further information and current vacancies can be found on the project homepage.

Project staff:

Scientific management

Prof. Dr. Hans Vorländer (Director)
Dr. Oliviero Angeli (Scientific Coordinator)

Project management

Cornelia Eichler (Project Manager)

Research Field 1 - Discourses

Dr. Kristina Chmelar (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin)
Dr. Marta Kozłowska (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin)

Research Field 2 - Attitudes

Dr. Maik Herold (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter)
Cyrill Otteni, M.A. (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter)
Felix Hormig, M.A. (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter)

Research Field 3 - Policies

Dr. Mariana Mendes (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin)
Dr. Steven Schäller (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter)

DFG-Project

Dr. Yuliya Byelikova (Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiterin)

Communication and knowledge transfer

Johanna Haupt, M.A . (Communication Manager)
Mathilde Rave, B.A. (Transfer and Communication Manager)
Julia Müer, Dipl (Event Manager)

Assistants

Barbara Zippelius (RA)
Friedrich Hausmann (RA)
Carla Dettmar (SA)
Marco Bien (SA)
Lea Solderer (SA)