Shifting Borders
This issue, jointly produced by Routed Magazine and the Oxford Migration Studies Society, celebrates the Oxford Migration Conference 2025.
Held on 17 and 18 May 2025, the conference titled “Shifting Borders” examined the evolving nature of borders, no longer confined to territorial boundaries but increasingly shaped by political transformations, technological developments, cultural shifts, policy changes, and the impacts of climate change. The event engaged with pressing and thought-provoking topics such as climate migration, the politics of belonging, artistic interventions in displacement contexts, border externalisation, and practices of homemaking.
Echoing the diverse and multidisciplinary spirit of the conference, this issue gathers insights from scholars, practitioners, policymakers, students, and civil society actors, sharing their perspectives from around the globe. It also features contributions from individuals unable to attend the event in Oxford. While the conference offered a platform to present research and foster dialogue, this issue creates space to revisit, expand, and deepen conversation while bringing fresh insights. Aiming to extend this critical reflection to a broader audience, we invite you to consider how borders, visible or invisible, shape human life. Most importantly, this issue seeks to reimagine the boundaries that divide and to inspire acts of solidarity and inclusivity.
We extend our gratitude to all contributors and organisers for their dedication to this project. We are particularly thankful to the Centre on Migration, Policy, and Society (COMPAS) for their generous funding, as well as the Oxford Department of International Development (ODID) and St Catherine’s College for their invaluable support throughout. Notably, this issue would not have been possible without Zelda Doglione and Kajetan Chlipalski, Co-Presidents of OMSS, and the work of Routed’s team: Shaddin Almasri, Woopi Takarasima, Fiona Buchanan, Idil Asan, Charles Mbatsogo, Lena Hartz, Sarah Etter, Laurisa Sastoque, Ritwika Patgiri and Margaret Koudelkova.
Without further ado, we invite you to read with a critical eye, hoping that you enjoy it as much as we have valued bringing these insights together.
Background image: States of Mind: Those Who Go by Umberto Boccioni, courtesy of The Met.
