Panel convenors: Miriam Nessler (TU Berlin), Marhabo Saparova (ISS Erasmus University)
Panel Abstract:
In recent years, arrival and integration processes of migrant newcomers have gained significance in migration studies. The concept of arrival infrastructures sheds light on how public services, civil society organisations, and social networks shape the integration trajectories of migrant newcomers in urban contexts. However, a crucial gap persists in this growing body of literature: the role of commercial infrastructures in facilitating or hindering the arrival and integration process of migrants has been largely neglected. On the other hand, an established literature on migration industries primarily focuses on commercial actors facilitating translocal mobility, while focusing less on arrival and integration processes. To address this gap that emerges at the intersection of different strands of literature on migration industries and arrival infrastructures, we seek papers that examine the complex ecosystem of private businesses and commercial actors catering specifically to newcomers’ arrival and integration needs. This panel invites papers that explore the often-underestimated role of commercial infrastructures in the arrival and integration of migrant newcomers. We seek to move beyond the traditional focus on public welfare, altruistic social networks and civil society organisations to understand how various commercial entities—ranging from ethnic businesses to brokers and local commercial agencies —serve as critical nodes in the integration process. This panel aims to address the following questions by inviting contributions that critically examine the role of commercial infrastructures in urban settings, locating them within the specific local, national and transnational welfare and integration/migration regimes. We welcome papers that explore questions such as:
• How do commercial infrastructures in arrival areas meet the specific needs of newcomers and shape their arrival trajectories?
• In what ways do commercial entities provide not just economic opportunities but also social and cultural resources for newcomers, e.g. access to community, information, housing, and bureaucracy (often in migrants’ native languages)?
• What are the implications of commercial infrastructures for broader debates on migrant arrival and integration in urban areas?
We invite scholars from a range of disciplines, including sociology, anthropology, geography, urban studies, and migration studies, to submit abstracts that address these and related questions. Empirical case studies, theoretical contributions, and comparative analyses are all welcome. Please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words, along with a brief bio, to