This volume transcends previous conventional linear perspectives on migration that provided theoretical insights from various perspectives, including sociology, economics, and sociolinguistics; it adopts a multilinear, multimodal approach, shifting the focus from the broad abstract view to the human face of migration. It achieves this by giving voice to the migrants themselves and shedding light on their multifaceted experiences through the examination of diverse narratives from different groups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Importantly, the book goes beyond conventional textual narratives, incorporating visual and digital elements and a wide range of narrative genres.
Two foundational socially constructed concepts, time and space, serve as the pillars for structuring the analysis of the presented data in this book, acting as a framework through which the narratives of migration are carefully examined and dissected. Furthermore, the variety of methodological and theoretical approaches included invites readers to contemplate the profound intersections of space, time, and human emotion within the narratives of migration which, in this case is seen as a complex, multifaceted phenomenon.
The book comprises ten chapters preceded by a detailed introduction. The introductory chapter sets the stage for the subsequent exploration, emphasizing the centrality of chronotope/topochrone in shaping the stories of migration. Some of the chapters emphasize the theme of ‘borders’ and ‘frontiers’, which serves as the leitmotif in migration. Frontiers and borders delineate the distinctions between ‘here’ and ‘there’, representing elements that can be either ‘safe’ or ‘dangerous’, ‘protective’ or ‘threatening’, ‘barriers’ or ‘forms of isolation’, depending on the narratives. ‘Belonging’ or ‘not belonging’ in space and time is another recurrent theme in the narratives. The reader may encounter situations where migrants find themselves without a sense of belonging anywhere, or conversely, they establish a sense of belonging by creating their own space. Finally, trauma has caused disruption of temporal continuity in many of the migrants’ narratives. For some of them future does not exist, while others seem to inhabit a timeless present. In any case, time seems to blur or to become less significant in migrants’ lives.
The protagonists are very different in each case: an elderly lady of Ghana, living between Ghana and the USA, economic migrants living in Spain, refugees from Ethiopia, Sudan and Congo, a ballet dancer from Syria who lives in the Netherlands, Moroccan families in Europe or child refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. Their narratives offer a mosaic of voices that collectively weave the intricate tapestry of the migrant experience.
Overall, using the editors’ words, ‘the volume allows us to conceive migration as an ongoing struggle between different points of view, so that mobility becomes a kind of transformative identity work’. Designed for scholars, educators, and researchers in migration studies, this book's innovative approach makes it a vital resource and an essential teaching tool, facilitating a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of migration. With transformative identity work at its core, it also serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking insights into the nature of the migrant experience.
