Attachments
Introduction
Each year, as part of the Mixed Migration Review, the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) runs an essay competition for young and emerging writers, researchers, and thinkers from the Global South. The competition aims to create space for emerging perspectives on mixed migration, recognising the value of voices that bring direct experience, important knowledge, and critical analysis.
The theme of the 2025 Mixed Migration Review is ‘migration in the context of geopolitical turmoil’. Essay competition entrants were invited to submit an essay abstract exploring how current geopolitical upheaval and shifting world orders are shaping migration in their own contexts. Themes included displacement and migration driven by conflicts influenced by foreign intervention or shifting alliances; changing asylum and resettlement policies, particularly where refugee status or resettlement has been affected by policy shifts (such as US asylum restrictions or the EU migration pact); the impact of strict border policies, deportations, or forced returns; or economic hardships caused by cuts to development and humanitarian aid.
In 2025 MMC received a record number of over 500 abstract submissions to the competition. From this, 20 finalists were selected to submit a full essay from which five winners were selected. The five prize winners were granted a cash prize, and their essays were featured in the Mixed Migration Review 2025. This year, due to the high calibre and diversity of submissions, MMC has chosen to publish all runner up essay in this online collection.
The essays presented in this collection are analytical, thoughtful and at times personal. They reflect on mixed migration as it is lived and understood within the authors’ own contexts, taking the form of opinion pieces, personal narratives and reportage-style articles. The essays have been lightly edited in some cases but remain the authors’ own work and reflect their individual opinions. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Mixed Migration Centre or the Danish Refugee Council.
Together, this collection of essays aims to broaden the conversation around mixed migration and contribute valuable and original perspectives to ongoing discussions. We are pleased to share this collection and to highlight the important work of this year’s contributors.