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The ERCOMER, a research institute based at the Faculty of Social Sciences,
Utrecht University, the Netherlands, is committed to comparative studies
on international migration and ethnic relations. Research projects in
these fields are mainly carried out with a focus on European countries.
Apart from research, the institute is engaged in the publication of the
joint book series 'Research in Migration and Ethnic Relations', publishes
a monograph series and created 'The WWW Virtual Library on Migration and
Ethnic Relations'. Only recently, the institute started an online information
system on migration and ethnic relations.
History
Experience has shown that 'research institutes seldom appear overnight'
(ERCOMER. Report on the first three years 1994-1996. Preface, 1997). The
ERCOMER is no exception to this 'rule'.
At Utrecht University, the largest of the 13 Dutch universities in terms
of the number of staff and the budget and the second largest as far as
the number of students is concerned, 'the existing team [¼] seemed
to have an unusual potential for building a new-style research centre'
in the early 1990s (ERCOMER. Report. Director's introduction, 1997: 1).
Malcolm Cross, the first Director of the institute, also emphasized that
the 'sizeable group already containing a mixture of leading names and
new talent [¼] was multidisciplinary and multinational' (ibid).
Against this background, the University of Utrecht granted resources for
three years to develop the idea of a European research centre on January
1, 1994 (ERCOMER. Report. Preface, 1997). Moreover, a 'contract with the
European Commission for a programme of Human Capital and Mobility Fellows'
was signed in the same year (ibid.).
Cross regards the Netherlands as an ideal location for the ERCOMER:
- 'Post-war migration has been as significant as in any other European
country and it has broadly been divided into a 'colonial' and 'gastarbeiter'
variant.
- The Dutch pioneered pluralism, seeing in new cultural forms further
pillars to their twin religious traditions.
- Above all, trading relations, small size and physical location near
the European centre of gravity combine to make the Netherlands an easy
place to extoll the virtues of comparative social sciences.'
(ERCOMER. Report. Director's introduction, 1997: 1-2).
But why were both migration and ethnic relations chosen as objects of
research? Cross explains this by referring to the phenomenon that 'the
rise of ethnonationalist movements often produces conflicts which generate
migration and flight' (ERCOMER. Report. Director's introduction, 1997:
2). Additionally, this connection allowed a consideration of 'the consequences
of increased population mobility' and 'added a dynamic perspective to
the study of minority-majority relations' (ibid.).
Research Agenda
The ERCOMER hopes for intriguing insights from comparative and interdisciplinary
research in six fields:
- Racism, ethnic conflict and nationalism in Western and Eastern
Europe;
- migration and asylum in Europe;
- migrants and minorities in European cities;
- comparative studies in multi-cultural education;
- migration, health and social integration;
- the governance of multi-ethnic states.
(Cf. ERCOMER. Report. 1997: 5-11).
Within these six fields, there are 32 running research projects (Cf. http://www.ercomer.org/staff/index.html.
Latest update: July 19, 2000). 25 scientists are currently working at
the ERCOMER. Han Entzinger, professor of the Department of General Social
Sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Utrecht University, is the
present Chair and Academic Director of the institute.
Results of research are published in journals, in the joint book series
'Research in Migration and Ethnic Relations'--a project of the Danish
Centre for Migration and Ethnic Studies, South Jutland University Centre
(DAMES), the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, University of Warwick
(CRER) and the ERCOMER--or in the ERCOMER Monograph Series (dissertations
and monographs). Moreover, some members of the ERCOMER publish their results
of research independent of the institute.
In the joint book series, the volume on 'European Nations and Nationalism.
Theoretical and Historical Perspectives', published in 2000, contains
studies of 15 Western, Central and Eastern European countries: the Russian
Federation, Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland,
Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Britain, France, Spain and
Italy. In their introductory analysis, Louk Hagendoorn and José
Pepels from the ERCOMER provide a theoretical approach to nationalism.
According to them, the intensity of nationalism varies between a 'mild'
version which is 'patriotic and ingroup oriented' and the 'hottest' version
which is 'aggressive, derogative toward outgroups, and aims to dominate'
(24).
The decisive role of a nationalistic elite in activating an 'echo effect'
is emphasized in this approach (21). Once awakened by an elite, nationalism
will 'swing around' in the form of a 'triangle': 'from a national majority,
to a national minority, to a neighbouring motherland, and so on' (20;
with reference to Rogers Brubaker's 'triangle concept' (publ. 1996): Nationalism
Reframed. Nationhood and the National Question in the New Europe. Cambridge,
UK: Cambridge UP).
Hagendoorn and Pepels refer to Karen Phalet and Edwin Poppe from the ERCOMER
who 'found the two general dimensions underlying national and ethnic stereotypes
that can be used when nationalistic elites want to evoke feelings of threat.
These are competence (or incompetence) and morality (or immorality) which
are attributed to outgroups [¼]' (21; Phalet, Karen, and Edwin
Poppe (1996). Competence and Morality Dimensions of National and Ethnic
Stereotypes. A Study in Six Eastern European Countries. Utrecht: ERCOMER,
unpublished paper).
In 'European Nations and Nationalism', data on migration, elections and
attitudes towards the mother country and foreign countries are presented.
The volume may serve as a reference guide for students and scholars.
The WWW Virtual Library on Migration and Ethnic Relations
The 'World-Wide Web Virtual Library on Migration and Ethnic Relations'
is a collection of links to major Internet resources in the field of migration
and ethnic relations: research centers, journals and newsletters, conferences
and meetings, data archives, documentation centers and NGOs etc. are listed.
It was establised by the ERCOMER on September 7, 1995, as a part of the
'WWW Virtual Library' that comprises many other subjects. ERCOMER's contribution
is available on the Internet site http://
www.ercomer.org wwwvl/index.html
The European Current Research Information System on Migration and Ethnic
Relations (ERIS-MER)
This information system is still in its infancy. If finally established,
it ought to provide 'information on research projects from their inception
to their completion, but will also incorporate additional information:
on participating persons and their expertise, on the [¼] organisations,
on the results, events, research funding sources related to the research
etc.' (http://www.ercomer.
org/research/ReSchools/Re_plans.html). The ERCOMER hopes that 'the
system will result in improved scientific communication and increased
public awareness of the research in the area of 'Migration and Ethnic
Relations'' (ibid.).
Publications
Joint Book Series: 'Research in Migration and Ethnic
Relations'
Hagendoorn, Louk, et al., eds. (2000). European Nations and Nationalism.
Theoretical and Historical Perspectives. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing
Limited.
Ter Wal, Jessika, and Maykel Verkuyten, eds. (2000). Comparative Perspectives
on Racism. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
Hagendoorn, Louk, and Shervin Nekuee, eds. (1999). Education and Racism.
A Cross National Survey of Positive Effects of Education on Ethnic Tolerance.
Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Limited.
(only ERCOMER publications in the series are listed above)
ERCOMER Monograph Series
Verkuyten, Maykel, and Jochem Thijs (2000). Leren (en) Warderen. Discriminatie,
Zelfbeeld, Relaties en Leerprestaties in 'Witte' en 'Zwarte' Basisscholen.
Amsterdam: Thela Thesis.
(the only available monograph title in July 2000)
Pepels, José (1999). The Myth of the Positive Crossed Categorization
Effect. Amsterdam: Thela Thesis.
Poppe, Edwin (1999). National and Ethnic Stereotypes in Central and Eastern
Europe. A Study among Adolescents in Six Countries. Amsterdam: Thela Thesis.
(dissertations published within the ERCOMER Monograph Series)
ERCOMER former Book Series: 'Comparative Studies in Migration and
Ethnic Relations'
Martiniello, Marco, ed. (1998). Multi-cultural Policies and the State.
A Comparison of two European Societies. Utrecht: ERCOMER.
Kempen, Ronald van, ed. (1997). Turks in European Cities. Housing and
Urban Segregation. Utrecht: ERCOMER.
Muus, Philip, ed. (1997). Exclusion and Inclusion of Refugees in Contemporary
Europe. Utrecht: ERCOMER.
Benda-Beckman, Keebet von, and Maykel Verkuyten, eds. (1995). Nationalism,
Ethnicity and Cultural Identity in Europe. Utrecht: ERCOMER.
(only available titles (in July 2000) are listed above)
Recent and Selected Works Written by Members of the ERCOMER not Published
within any Book Series
Dekker, Henk, and Robert Aspeslagh (1999). Ein besonderes Verhältnis.
Deutschland und die Niederlande. Baden-Baden: Nomos.
Poppe, Edwin, and Hub Linssen (1999). 'Ingroup Favouritism and the Reflection
of Realistic Dimensions of Differences between National States in Central
and Eastern European Nationality Stereotypes'. British Journal of Social
Psychology, 38: 85-102.
European Directory of Migrant and Ethnic Minority Organisations
ÓMaoláin, Ciarán, ed. (1996). European Directory
of Migrant and Ethnic Minority Organisations 1996. Utrecht: Published
for the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants by the ERCOMER.
Further information:
European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations (ERCOMER),
Utrecht University,
Heidelberglaan 2,
3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 (0)30 253 92 12
Fax: +31 (0)30 253 92 80
E-mail: ERCOMERsecr@fsw.ruu.nl
Internet: http://www.ercomer.org
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