The legal, penal and discursive depiction of people who move across borders as “migrants,” or any of its sub-categories, renders them immediately as “Other.” They are not only regarded as physically and culturally not belonging to a receiving nation/society, but even more so they are located outside the bounds of humanity. How do we then reclaim the humanity of mobile Middle Easterners who have crossed, and continue to cross, boundaries into diasporas? In this talk, I explore the role that emotions have in shaping ME migration history through some brief examples, and how that reshapes the category of “migrant.” I also look to public history and its various tools for ways to transcend the discursive alienation of Middle Eastern immigrants.

For any questions or to register interest please contact: mailto:john-paul.ghobrial@history.ox.ac.uk