International Scientific Symposium
Migration of Population – the Phenomenon of Refugeeism
Zagreb, 18 and 19 November 2016
23rd International Scientific Symposium Migration of Population – the Phenomenon of Refugeeism was held in Zagreb on 18 and 19 November 2016. The Symposium was organized by the Bosniak National Community for the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County, the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies, Zagreb, and Mulla Sadra Foundation Sarajevo in cooperation with the Croatian Ministry of Culture and the Majlis of the Islamic Community Zagreb.
The aim of this Symposium was to analyze the causes of current migration flows induced by war demolitions, by the attempts to democratize the countries from which the largest number of migrants/refugees are coming from as well as by geostrategic interests of the great powers. New migration flows encourage us in interdisciplinary reflection on the phenomenon of migration that significantly affects the consciousness of European citizenship.
At the beginning welcoming notes were delivered by Mr. Dževad Jogunčić, President of the Organizing Committee of the Symposium and Prof. Esad Ćimić, professor emeritus, President of the Academic Board of the Symposium, followed by the speeches by Dr. Marina Perić Kaselj, Acting Director of the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies in Zagreb, Dr. Med. Gzim Redžepi, President of the Majlis of the Islamic Community Zagreb, and Prof. Dr. Akbar Eydi from the Mulla Sadra Foundation in Sarajevo.
The work of the Symposium was organized in five panels, and a total of 23 presentations, along with two invited keynote lectures, were delivered by 29 lecturers from nine countries. The phenomenon of refugeeism was approached from different aspects -the basic starting points, historical and contemporary perspectives, and problems, as well as through the prism of religious teachings and practices. Many issues and problems that refugeeism brings were also discussed -from its causes and many different consequences to the protection and integration of migrants/refugees and policies toward them. The approaches of disciplines such as social anthropology, philosophy, sociology, religion, ethics, politics, economics, etc., contributed to the diversity of thinking and encouraged high-quality discussion at the symposium.
The Symposium ended by the adoption of conclusions and the document entitled “Recommendations / Messages of the Participants of the Symposium Migration of Population – the Phenomenon of Refugeeism”.