The conference
Why do some migrants set off the movement of thousands of people, while others are followed only by a few, or remain virtually alone in the destination country? Some answers can be found in the variation in economic and social conditions in different places. Another vital part of the puzzle relates to the historical, social and cultural practices of migration: those who move now are following in the footsteps of those who left before. This conference examines how enduring patterns of migration emerge, are sustained and decline; the mechanisms by which the migration processes of yesterday influence those of today; and the role of the migrant as a social actor in the face of these historical and social processes.

Submission of abstracts
We invite contributions within the three conference themes. We also welcome papers covering overarching issues that straddle the themes, for example: the methodological challenges of multi-sited and mixed methods research, or the relationship between broader social theory and migration processes.

Submissions should be clearly marked as falling into one of the following five areas:

• Emergence and development of migration systems
• Feedback processes in migration
• Migrants as social actors
• Methodology
• Cross-cutting

Abstracts of up to 300 words maximum to be submitted by 15 January 2013

Notification of acceptance to be made by March 2013

Submission of full papers in English required by 1 August 2013

For more information, including instructions for submission of abstracts and details about registration please visit www.imi.ox.ac.uk/research-projects/themis/conference2013

Contributions from scholars in the global South are welcomed.

If you have any queries relating to the conference, please email themis@qeh.ox.ac.uk