Postcolonialism and postmigration: Re-mapping the topography of the possible

Abstract

The term postmigration was developed in Europe and has also received attention beyond the German-speaking context in recent years. It covers various aspects and allows for a discussion of social, political and cultural contexts, which can generally be described as counter-hegemonic knowledge production. It re-interprets and re-contextualizes historical, as well as current developments in immigration societies. Since postmigration has certain analogies with the discourse on postcolonialism, we will first deal with Eurocentric ideology related to postcolonialism. Subsequently, we will present the basic concepts of postmigration and address their relevance for critical and contemporary research in migration studies and social analysis. Thus, postmigration, through an aesthetic, material and affective intervention in the practical field, opens up new possibilities for political modes of resistance and subjectification beyond hegemonic interpretations of belonging.