Superdiversity and Its Relevance for Central and Eastern European Migration Studies. The Case of Polish Migrants in the UK

This article presents our key arguments about the usefulness of the concept of superdiversity for reimagining migration in European societies, based on the example of migration from Poland to the UK. We argue that, despite some criticism of ‘superdiversity’, this concept is beneficial to avoid over-simplifications related to ethno-nationalised homogeneity as the prevailing ascribed feature of Polish migrants, offering a helpful lens through which the complexities and fluidity of contemporary migrant populations and receiving societies may be investigated. Our main point is that such the reimagination might be commenced through applying the concept of superdiversity in research on migrants from Poland in Great Britain. The concept of superdiversity is also beneficial to understand complexities associated with the urban contexts in which migrants settle, their adaptation pathways as well as the intersectional factors shaping migrants’ lives and experiences

Introduction: rethinking integration. New perspectives on adaptation and settlement in the era of super-diversity

This article outlines key arguments and contributions pertaining to new perspectives on the adaptation and settlement of migrants under conditions of super diversification and ongoing migration ‘crisis’. We seek to re-ignite interest in the conceptual the development of the concept of integration and to stimulate theoretical and research advancement beyond the normative integration paradigm. Given the growing complexity, acceleration of changes and increased interconnectedness across societies as well as diversification of migrants, patterns of migration and modes of operation we argue that the concept of integration, and the ideas that underpin thinking around migrants’ adaptation and settlement more generally, need to be reconsidered. Highlighting a number of different ways of thinking about migrant adaptation and settlement we account not only for the multi-dimensionality of integration processes, but also for the diverse nature of migrants and how their multiple characteristics of individuals shape integration opportunities and challenges. Using perspectives from multiple countries in relation to both voluntary and forced migrants within and outside of the EU, this paper offers a range of theoretical and methodological insights into how the complexity associated with super-diversity might be captured and outlines new ways of conceptualising integration. The article It also sets up new research agenda around notions lying behind the concept of integration such as the integration of transnational or transit populations, integration within fluid and super-diverse communities or the relationship between integration and intersectionality with the focus on multi dimensions dimensionality, relativeness and modalities of social relations

Voluntary action for asylum seeker and refugee integration

This chapter focusses on the role of a self-organised civil society project known as the Welcome Project, based in the superdiverse neighbourhood of Handsworth/Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, in supporting social integration. We begin by describing the characteristics of Handsworth/Handsworth Wood before setting out the reasons why the project was established and the needs it was intended to address. We then outline the services offered by the project before exploring the ways in which their work supports social integration locally. We end the chapter by reflecting on the reasons for the project’s success and the key dimensions of their approach that could be adopted elsewhere

Researching migration in a superdiverse society: challenges, methods, concerns and promises

The arrival of superdiversity raises a wide range of methodological issues that warrant further consideration by social researchers conducting research in superdiverse contexts. The complex multi-layering of population settlement that has emerged due to successive waves of migration means that identities, lived experience and access to services including welfare are played out in a plethora of different ways, often determined by the interplay of a range of socio-economic variables alongside structural characteristics, which influence the fundamental rights and entitlements of individuals living in the UK and in turn their settlement and adaptation experiences. This paper reflects on the limitations of ethno-centric research designs, which concentrate on ethnicity as the most important unit of analysis, and calls for more participatory and multidimensional methodologies that engage diverse participants and reflect the levels of socio-demographic complexity experienced in urban areas of society. It then moves on to discuss a number of specific methodological challenges associated with complex populations. In particular sampling and access issues associated with diverse migrant populations will be considered. The latter part of this paper discusses the adoption of a range of research approaches that offer promising potential in terms of better capturing and understanding the heterogeneity, complexity and fluidity concomitant with superdiversity as well as engaging a range of community stakeholders in the production of knowledge.</jats:p

Bringing anchoring and embedding together: theorising migrants' lives over-time

In this paper, we bring together two concepts that we have been developing separately over recent years, to challenge linear and simplistic notions of migrant integration, depict multi-dimensional processes of settling and changeability over time. The concept of embedding has been proposed to capture dynamism beyond the more static notion of Granovetter’s embeddedness. The concept explores the contexts and contingencies of where and how migrants establish different degrees of attachment in different places and through different social relationships. Also the concept of anchoring has been developed to offer an antireductionist processual and multi-dimensional understanding of migrant adaptation and settling, highlighting the issues of security and stability. In this paper, using longitudinal research, we explore for the first time how bringing our two concepts together may offer additional insights and understandings of migrants’ experiences of and responses to the uncertainties and complexities of contemporary society, exacerbated by Brexit

Where is agency in the context of urban transformation? Exploring the narratives of institutional stakeholders and community activists in Birmingham

How do institutional stakeholders and community activists differ in their perception of their agency to affect change? We explore this question by synthesising Archer’s theory of structure–agency dynamics’ and Easterly’s development models, and debates on the ‘just city’ to explore narratives around urban transformation in data from two projects in England’s second city, Birmingham. Our results show that, whereas institutional stakeholders affiliated with local government feel rather disempowered and defer to signals from national government or investors, community activists are focused on opportunities to use their agency and create change in their local areas. The implications of this divergence for the aims of achieving empowerment and social justice are discussed. Also, the benefits of a co-production model used in one of the research projects are reflected upon. Building on this model through policies of collaboration, forming social connections and active civic engagement could use the social energy and potential we identify to reinvigorate agency and the motivation of institutional stakeholders and generate change that is more bottom-up than top-down. To this end, we encourage greater reflection on notions of agency and participation in discussions on the ‘just city’. However, in view of prevailing structural forces, we acknowledge that such efforts ultimately remain aspirational and difficult to achieve

Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Cytotoxicity of Phaleria macrocarpa (Boerl.) Scheff Fruit

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Phaleria macrocarpa </it>(Scheff.) Boerl (Thymelaceae) originates from Papua Island, Indonesia and grows in tropical areas. The different parts of the fruit of <it>P. macrocarpa </it>were evaluated for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Phaleria macrocarpa </it>fruit were divided into pericarp, mesocarp and seed. All parts of the fruit were reflux extracted with methanol. The antioxidant activity of the extracts were characterized in various <it>in vitro </it>model systems such as FTC, TBA, DPPH radical, reducing power and NO radical. Anti-inflammatory assays were done by using NO production by macrophage RAW 264.7 cell lines induced by LPS/IFN-γ and cytotoxic activities were determined by using several cancer cell lines and one normal cell line</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results showed that different parts (pericarp, mesocarp, and seed) of <it>Phaleria macrocarpa </it>fruit contain various amount of total phenolic (59.2 ± 0.04, 60.5 ± 0.17, 47.7 ± 1.04 mg gallic acid equivalent/g DW) and flavonoid compounds (161.3 ± 1.58, 131.7 ± 1.66, 35.9 ± 2.47 mg rutin equivalent/g DW). Pericarp and mesocarp showed high antioxidant activities by using DPPH (71.97%, 62.41%), ferric reducing antioxidant power (92.35%, 78.78%) and NO scavenging activity (65.68%, 53.45%). Ferric thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid tests showed appreciable antioxidant activity in the percentage hydroperoxides inhibitory activity from pericarp and mesocarp in the last day of the assay. Similarly, the pericarp and mesocarp inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthesis with values of 63.4 ± 1.4% and 69.5 ± 1.4% in macrophage RAW 264.7 cell lines induced by LPS/IFN-γ indicating their notable anti-inflammatory potential. Cytotoxic activities against HT-29, MCF-7, HeLa and Chang cell lines were observed in all parts.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicated the possible application of <it>P. macrocarpa </it>fruit as a source of bioactive compounds, potent as an antioxidant, anti inflammatory and cytotoxic agents.</p

Aqueous and Methanolic Extracts of Caulerpa mexicana Suppress Cell Migration and Ear Edema Induced by Inflammatory Agents

The regulation of the inflammatory response is essential to maintaining homeostasis. Several studies have investigated new drugs that may contribute to avoiding or minimizing excessive inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of extracts of green algae Caulerpa mexicana on models inflammation. In mice, the inflammatory peritonitis model is induced by zymosan. Previous treatment of mice with aqueous and methanolic extracts of C. mexicana was able to suppress the cell migration to the peritoneal cavity, in a time-dependent but not in a dose-dependent manner. The treatment of mice with C. mexicana extracts also decreased the xylene-induced ear edema, exerting strong inhibitory leukocyte migration elicited by zymosan into the air pouch. We concluded that administration of the extracts resulted in a reduction of cell migration to different sites as well as a decrease in edema formation induced by chemical irritants. This study demonstrates for the first time the anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous and methanolic extracts from the green marine algae Caulerpa mexicana