What is the use of research in public debates and policy-making on immigration and integration? Why are there such large gaps between migration debates and migration realities, and how can they be reduced? To address these questions, we analyse the links between research, public debates (including media and public opinion), and policy-making on migration, in both high- and lower-income countries. Our analysis aims to critically engage and go beyond the popular ideas of “evidence based policy-making” and, at the opposite end of the spectrum, “post-truth politics”. We seek to understand how and why research does, or does not, influence public debates and policy-making on migration at local, national, and supra-national levels. We are particularly interested in exploring how the relationships between research, debates, and policy vary across countries and different levels of governance.

Selected recent publications (2018/19):

• Ruhs, M., Tamas, T. and J. Palme eds. (2019) Bridging the Gaps: Linking Research to Public Debates and Policy-making on Migration and Integration, Oxford University Press