The major interests of the IDI group revolve around understanding the structurally embedded struggles for participation and inclusion that individuals and groups face in diverse social contexts. Central to our work is the investigation of how identities are constructed, contested, and (re)shaped within varying constellations of power. Adopting an intersectional perspective, we view diversity and identity as being shaped by multiple intersecting structural differences, including gender, religion, class, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, and more.
Our research often focuses on individuals and groups with experiences of migration, displacement, or mobility, analyzed through a transnational lens that actively avoids methodological nationalism. Drawing on critical theories, we scrutinize power and agency, examining both visible forms of domination and the more subtle, normalized structures and discourses that perpetuate exclusion. These often-overlooked dynamics, deeply embedded in societal norms, are a key focus of our work.
The IDI group maintains a mailing list and meets regularly to discuss papers and provide feedback. Most IDI members are qualitative researchers specializing in narrative approaches and ethnography, while some complement these methods with quantitative methodologies.
