Migration Unboxed

What are the connections between the politics of race and the politics of migration? In this episode we unbox migration further by acknowledging the integral role played by racial discourses in creating narratives that divide migrant from citizen. MMB's Co-Director, Jo Crow, stands in as our host in this conversation between two guests bringing a wealth of experience and original thinking in migration research from both sides of the Atlantic. Cat Ramírez from the University of California Santa Cruz offers us the US perspective and MMB's very own founding Director Bridget Anderson speaks from the UK and European experience. Together the three tackle questions about labour and precarity, assimilation vs integration, US/UK similarities and differences, and whether those researchers and activists defending 'migrant communities' can still end up perpetuating racist stereotyping.For further reading on some of the topics discussed in this episode please see the links below.Bios:Jo Crow is Professor of Latin American Studies and Co-Director of MMB at the University of Bristol.Cat Ramírez is Professor of Latin American and Latino Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz.Bridget Anderson is Professor of Migration, Mobilities and Citizenship and founding Director of MMB at the University of Bristol. In September 2026 Bridget will be leaving Bristol to take on the directorship of the new Migration Futures Institute at Goldsmiths, University of London.Further reading:Cat's book on assimilation: Assimilation: An Alternative History (University of California Press 2020).MMB's book on rethinking migration: Rethinking Migration: Challenging Borders, Citizenship and Race edited by Bridget Anderson (University of Bristol Press 2025) - open access.MMB blog series: Race, Nation and Migration (2021).MMB blog series: Reframing Conversations (2026).Cat's blogpost for MMB on 'Imagining proximity, building infrastructure' is forthcoming in July 2026. Search for it on the MMB blog.Credits: Produced by Migration Mobilities Bristol (MMB)Recorded in University of Bristol studios by Jonathan ScottEdited by Melissa FitzGerald – X @melissafitzgMusic by Olly Shaw – ollyshawmusic.com Follow us on:Bluesky - @mmbuob.bsky.socialLinkedIn – Migration Mobilities Bristol (MMB)Instagram – mmbuobFacebook – Migration Mobilities Bristol Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.