Human migration, mobility and forced displacement since the pandemic

Covid-19 has caused drastic and complex changes to most forms of human migration, mobility, and movement.

These transformations continue to raise profound regulatory and governance challenges in Australia and around the world - ranging from immobilising the disease itself, to filling skills shortages, unblocking supply chains, planning commuter infrastructure, reviving CBDs, forecasting population and economic growth, stimulating regional economies, maintaining social cohesion, and revitalising creative industries. These societal challenges require understanding of changes in how people move around.

To help develop the necessary understanding, Alan will invite discussion on a range of key questions which form the basis of an ongoing multi-year research agenda on human migration and mobility since the pandemic was declared in 2020:

1. Will countries need less labour migration?
2. Will migrant decision-making change?
3. Will anti-immigrant sentiment grow?
4. Will autocratic regimes suppress diversity?
5. Will migration restrictions proliferate?
6. Will travel 'bubbles' and 'bridges' become economic regions?
7. Will international student migration recover?
8. Will commuter travel decline?
9. Will immobility reshape cities?
10. Will demographic and mobility transitions change course?

Alan will briefly outline the current state of knowledge on each question and highlight key areas for further engagement with scholars of regulation and governance.

About the Speaker

Alan Gamlen is Professor in the School of Regulation and Global Governance at The Australian National University. He is an expert on human migration and mobility. Alan has previously held appointments at Oxford University, Stanford University, the Max Planck Society, the Japan Centre for Area Studies, Monash University and Wellington University in his homeland, New Zealand. In 2022 he was awarded an ARC Future Fellowship to examine the impacts of the pandemic on human migration.

COVID protocols

The ANU strongly encourages you to keep a mask with you at all times (for use when COVID-19 safe behaviours are not practicable) and to be respectful of colleagues, students and visitors who may wish to continue to wear one. Please continue to practice good hygiene. If you are unwell, please stay home. The ANU's COVID Safety advice can be accessed here.

This seminar presentation will be in-person only.

Image credit: Image of hands with different colour skin tones coming together over a map of the earth by Ralph from pixabay (free to use under Pixabay license)