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Global social inequalities that result in (forced)migration are largely determined by transnational political and economic processes. This phenomenon is referred to in the conference title. The term 'local', on the other hand, clearly indicates that these developments are addressed at continental, national and regional levels through politics, media, science and social work. Two research groups in Hamburg and Salzburg, using interdisciplinary and methodologically diverse approaches, are investigating how global connections are interpreted and empirically researched on a local level. Furthermore, they explore concepts that are developed in practical fields of action in order to find regional reactions to worldwide connections. Local interpretations of scientific and media discourses are analysed and the extent to which these are framed in a global context is investigated. Moreover, it is examined whether there are issues and areas for action that are ignored on both levels in science and the media and if so, why; what methods are available to research global processes, how they may be implemented and what aspects of research ethics are problematic in this respect.

The results of this research will be presented at the end of a multi-year Ph.D. program. With the conference "Global connections, local interpretations? – Critical perspectives on scientific and media discourses in the context of refuge and asylum" we are looking for an exchange with scholars from various disciplines who address topics such as power and worldwide injustices in the context of flight and asylum, its causes and consequences as well as its media representation and its academic reflection both on a global and on a local level. The aim is to discuss current research findings as well as methodological issues and aspects of research ethics.