FS 3.160: Migration and Border Dynamics

The International Scientific Committee on Research in the Alps (ISCAR) with the support of Eurac Research and Pacte, with this session invites an exploration of the intricate relationship between migration and border securitization in the Alpine mountain region. Historically a corridor of connectivity and refuge within Europe, the Alps have recently become sites where national and EU border regimes create pronounced physical and symbolic divides. These divides highlight an asymmetry between unregulated border crossings and established patterns of cross-border mobility, such as daily commuting and skilled labor attraction. Scholars from various disciplines have examined these dynamics, illustrating how the Alps simultaneously serve as sanctuary and frontier, thus complicating narratives of humanitarian duty within mountainous landscapes. We seek interdisciplinary contributions that investigate: social responses to humanitarian challenges in the Alpine region; the historical evolution of bordering and debordering narratives; the differential effects and everyday life of bordering and debordering practices on local communities and migrant groups; and the governance mechanisms regulating mountain border crossings. This session aims to bridge perspectives on migration, border securitization, and local responses to reveal the complex layers through which the Alpine borderlands are shaped.