Divided families, divisive policies: the contentious politics of refugee family reunification

 

Join us for this MRG online seminar with Lucy Hunt from the University of Luxembourg. There is not need to register, just join the link 

 

This talk explores the landscape of refugee family reunification policies and debates across Europe as of 2025, to take stock after a decade of successive migration ‘crises’ and shifting political responses. Drawing on extensive desk-based research, it examines national practices and socio-political debates shaping access to family reunification for refugees, beneficiaries of international protection and asylum applicants across the continent. Drawing on Tilly and Tarrow’s (2015) framework of contentious politics, the paper argues that processes of polarisation, acts of boundary activation and repertoires of contention have shaped these debates and resulting policies. In terms of policy implementation, despite EU-level directives and legal frameworks promoting family unity, reunification procedures remain fragmented – with significant disparities in terms of eligibility, documentation requirements and timelines. The paper concludes by arguing for more harmonised, rights-based approaches and identifies key areas for reform: such as clearer procedures, flexible documentation rules and improved support for refugees’ social, educational and economic inclusion. It contributes to broader debates on migration governance and refugee protection in contemporary Europe.

 

Bio: Lucy Hunt is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Luxembourg and an Affiliated Research Fellow of the Hub for Education for Refugees in Europe at the University of Nottingham, UK. She works on topics connected to youth, migration and inclusion, and particularly educational challenges facing young refugees.

 

Link to Join: https://meet.google.com/gdy-qkzy-uzc
Or dial: ‪(GB) +44 20 3957 0145‬ PIN: ‪425 353 979‬#
For other numbers, check: https://tel.meet/gdy-qkzy-uzc?pin=5743976117832