Beyond Polarization: A Progressive Agenda for Migration

Veranstaltungsnummer: 289610 – als .ics herunterladen

Migration has become one of the most contested political issues of our time. Positioned between economic demand, humanitarian obligations, and growing societal polarization, it raises a fundamental question: how can migration be governed in a way that is both effective and democratically legitimate?

The recent policy paper Managing Migration: The Progressive Way (Stephanie von Meien, Cristobal Ramón, Hannah Tyler, 2026) offers a comparative analysis of current migration challenges in Germany and the United States. It argues that declining public support for migration policies is closely linked to a perceived loss of state control over borders and asylum systems—creating space for right-wing actors to shape the debate through fear-driven narratives.

This event will present the key arguments and recommendations of the study and open up a broader discussion on the future of migration governance. In particular, it will explore:

how governments can restore public confidence through credible and functional migration management,
how migration systems can be designed to respond more flexibly to labour market needs and regional contexts,
and how progressive actors can move beyond defensive positions to actively reshape the political narrative on migration.

The discussion will reflect on the applicability of these proposals in the German context and engage with current political debates. Rather than approaching migration solely as a site of conflict, the event invites participants to consider it as a field of political design—balancing order, openness, and social cohesion.