New Edited Volume Explores Religious and Non-Religious Narratives on Migration Across Europe and Beyond

The recently published volume, Religious and Non-Religious Narratives on Migration. Interdisciplinary Perspectives brings together leading international scholars to shed new light on the role of religion, worldviews, and narratives in shaping the perception and realities of migration. Edited by Regina Polak (University of Vienna, Austria), Aybiçe Tosun (Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Türkiye), and Ansgar Jödicke (University of Fribourg, Switzerland), the volume represents a significant milestone in migration research within the framework of the COST Action COREnet (Connecting Theory and Practical Issues of Migration and Religious Diversity). 

Migration is often debated in statistics, policies, and headlines. But behind every number is a story—stories told by migrants themselves, by religious communities, by governments, and by the media. These stories, or narratives, influence whether migration is seen as a threat, an opportunity, or simply a human reality. This volume examines how both religious and non-religious perspectives matter deeply in shaping those narratives, and how listening carefully to them can open new ways forward. 

According to the co-editor of the volume, Regina Polak, “One of the key findings of this project was that genuinely religious migration narratives possess a potential for meaning that can resonate even within secular societies. Conversely, non-religious migration narratives can support religious communities in articulating their perspectives on migration in ways that are both contemporary and contextually grounded”.

A Unique Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The book emerges from COST Action COREnet, a European research network initiated in 2021 that connects theory and practice in the field of migration and religious diversity. Over the course of several years, COREnet scholars from diverse disciplines and cultural contexts engaged in collaborative research, dialogical formats, and innovative methodologies to critically analyse how narratives influence migration experiences and to explore the role of religion and secular worldviews in these processes.

Highlighting Migrants’ Voices
One of the most innovative aspects of the volume is its methodological emphasis on listening to the voices of migrants themselves. To facilitate this, the network developed and implemented the concept of “narrative cafés.” These dialogical spaces allowed migrants to share their personal stories in a supportive, interactive environment, thereby highlighting their lived experiences beyond abstract political or academic debates. 

Co-editor of the Volume Aybiçe Tosun shares that “The religious and non-religious narratives of migrants are seen not just as individual experiences, but as expressions of identity, belonging, and coping with structural challenges in this contribution. Participatory approaches support the sharing of first-hand experiences, which helps ensure ethical research practices and highlights the diversity of the narratives.”

A Timely Contribution
By bridging theoretical frameworks and practical concerns, Religious and Non-Religious Narratives on Migration offers scholars, policymakers, and practitioners critical tools for engaging migration in ways that are both academically rigorous and socially constructive.

Co-editor Ansgar Jödicke emphasised that “good cooperation between religious and non-religious humanitarian groups and political decision-makers is crucial for effectively addressing the challenges in the field of migration.”

The volume will be of particular interest to researchers in theology, sociology, philosophy, and education, as well as policymakers and organisations working in the fields of migration, integration, and interreligious dialogue.

Follow this link to read the Volume (open access).