Interconnecting Histories and Archives for Migrant Agency: Entangled Narratives Across Europe and the Mediterranean Region (ITHACA)

Based on a consortium involving 12 partners from origin, transit and host migration countries in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Eurasia, the ITHACA project focuses on migration narratives in the past and present, analysing them in a rigorous historical framework, whilst adopting an interdisciplinary, comparative and transnational approach. The aim is to define and develop concrete actions of migration management, moving away from an emergency logic and basing the choices of practitioners and policy makers on a triple basis: 1) a long-term multi-layered historical appraisal (global, oral, digital, gender, socio-economic, and religious), with an archival focus on the collection and preservation of endangered migrant records; 2) the analysis of the multiple and contrasting forms taken by narratives on migrations; 3) the attentive listening and interpretation of expectations and experiences of the migrants themselves. At the heart of the project is the creation of a digital platform collecting databases on past and present migration narratives, and offering media tools and applications to policymakers, practitioners, and migrants. Through archival surveys, research-action, and participatory, artistic and training activities, the ITHACA project deepens the various forms of narratives on and by migrants, considering them as agents of social change, retracing causes, transformations, and effects of migration narratives, and highlighting silenced expressions. Finally, the ITHACA stakeholders engagement activities interconnect scholars, archivists, museum curators, practitioners, ngos, returnees and potential migrants. These actions intend to raise awareness, to inform the public debate, and to disseminate thoughtful recommendations for present and future policies of relief, empowerment, inclusion and participation.