Author Archives: Joost Jongerden

On Becoming: MSc Thesis on Undocumented Migrants in the Netherlands

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On Becoming: An Ethnographic Account on the Importance of Social Relationships for Undocumented Migrants in the Netherlands

This ethnographic and descriptive account argues for the importance of personal relationships for the ‘integration’ of undocumented migrants in the Netherlands from the perspective of those who ‘live it’. Following three personal stories we can see that social networks are crucial as they provide access to necessary resources and enable undocumented migrants to practically arrange their existence. But in addition, because these interactions are built on personal connections and allow for intimacy they enable a deeper sense of belonging. This indicates that, although undocumented migrants are formally ex­cluded from any state services, they may in fact participate economically and socially due to their personal social network. As such, they enable a different perspective on the mean­ing and methods of integration. Because in a domain highly controlled by the state these three personal stories show that integration may also be seen as a trajectory of becoming; as a constant social process based on affective and personal relationships that take place in the social domain. Integration as such should not be seen as a procedural process as only described by the state but instead as an affective process in which people assemble socially. This enables a reconceptualization of integration and a re-envisioning of the role of the state in social life.

On Becoming is a MSc thesis written by Vera Ribbens and supervised by Alberto Arce (SDC) and Joost Jongerden (RSO). The thesis can be accessed by following this link: http://edepot.wur.nl/356124

Student Exchange with Kyoto University

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The Kyoto University (KU), Japan and Wageningen University (WU) have agreed to a BSc and MSC Student Mobility Agreement. Under the agreement, it is possible for students of both universities to follow courses at the partner university. For students at WU any academic credit earned at the KU will be transferred back to WU, and vice versa. For students in Wageningen, the agreement gives the great opportunity to follow courses in comparative development studies, Asian studies, and transcultural studies in one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Japan. Founded in 1897, Kyoto University belongs to the world’s top universities. Students at Kyoto University have the opportunity to follow courses at Wageningen University, a top university in the life sciences and development studies.

Students who are interested in studying at KU can contact Joost Jongerden for more info (joost.jongerden@wur.nl, Leeuwenborch room 3027).

Open for applications: graduate workshop in Kyoto, Japan in May 2016

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From May 24 to May 27 Kyoto University, represented by the Graduate School of Economics and the Graduate School of Agriculture, together with the Rural Sociology Group of Wageningen University, organize a Second Graduate Workshop. The workshop is intended for graduate students (both master and PhD) and takes place within the context of a collaboration between both institutes. The objective of the workshop is to become acquainted and discuss ongoing social sciences research within Kyoto University and Wageningen University, with an emphasis on the political economy and the sociology of agriculture and food.

Students who are interested can request an application form or more info at: joost.jongerden@wur.nl

Summer School Development Studies at Kyoto University, Japan

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In September the Kyoto University (Faculty of Economics) will organize a summer school on East Asia Sustainable Development Studies. The summer school will be composed of lectures and field trips. Professors from various units ofIMG_2253 - Copy Kyoto University will give lectures on themes like: culture and history, corporate governance, political economy, and development and sustainability issues. The focus will be on Japan and the ASEAN region. The schedule of the lectures and field trips are synchronized in order to allow students to examine both theory and practise. Kyoto University has funds for covering the travel expenses of 1-2 students who are interested in participating. Students must have an interest in development studies. Want to know more? Contact Joost Jongerden at joost.jongerden@wur.nl

 

BSc/MSc thesis topics: Where is the rural?

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The classic nineteenth century thinkers devoted comparatively little attention to the rural, concentrating their work on the coincidence of urban-industrial as the modern spatial and socio-economic ‘setting’ of modern life. While the urban-industrial was considered contemporary and developed, dynamic and  active, modern and progressive, the rural was looked upon as archaic and backward, static and passive, traditional and conservative. The rural emerged as a residual category of our thinking of modern society.

Over time rural sociology has been plagued by the question what the rural is? Some have argued that the rural (and for that matter the urban) is a socio-spatial category: the space of agriculture. However such definitions are intrinsically instable, since the occupational basis of rural populations has become loosely connected with agriculture. Attempts to differentiate the rural and the urban on basis of other social characteristics as population size and density also proofed to be untenable. Others have argued that the urban ‘exploded’  into the countryside and the world we live in has become one of planetary urbanization, leaving us behind with the question where the rural has gone to?

We are looking for students who are interested in doing a BSc/MSc thesis study into the question of the what and where the rural is. Questions that can be explored are: How has the rural been defined in sociological theory; what socio-spatial constructions of the rural have been made? Is there still place for an idea of the ‘rural’ in ‘planetary urbanization’? To what extend is our thinking ensnared by the words ‘rural’ and ‘urban’, forcing us to think in highly problematic analytical and empirical categories?

Students interested have the choice to deal with these questions in different ways and from various perspectives. Depending on your interest you can do a literature research into past and present of defining the rural, empirical research into constructions of the rural, or delve into theory, for example by exploring the thinking of Deleuze or Lefebvre for developing new ‘vocabularies’ or notions of socio-spatiality.

Interested or looking for more information? Please contact Joost Jongerden at joost.jongerden@wur.nl or Leeuwenborch room 3027