Call for Papers: Migration-Muuttoliike Theme Issue (1/2026): Older Migrants and Ageing in Finland
The Migration-Muuttoliike journal is published twice per year by the Migration Institute of Finland, with the aim of bringing topics of interest to the attention of decision-makers, researchers and others working with these topics.
The theme of the next issue of the journal is “Older Migrants and Ageing in Finland”. Ageing has often been overlooked in migration-related discussions. Older migrants’ belonging to their new society is often questioned, depicting them as lacking the ability to integrate and become active members in society on par with others. This in turn has led to shaping policies that exclude older migrants from measures aimed at promoting participation. Yet, in the field of migration studies, ageing and older migrants have been increasingly reflected, often in relation to intergenerational and life course approaches. Recent research has also been conducted on older migrants’ wellbeing, care relations, access to rights, and everyday life in Finland. Yet, what appears to be missing from existing research are the perspectives and lived experiences of diverse older migrants who might be in less favorable positions. Particularly in the context of forced migration studies, it can still be argued that relatively little research has been conducted on and with older refugees and asylum seekers. In this call, we apply the concept of social age and welcome contributions concerning migrants who can be perceived as seniors, typically referring to those above the age of 50.
We welcome research-based articles, shorter texts and experience-based perspectives/commentaries and book reviews on the topic of “Older Migrants and Ageing in Finland” to be considered for publication in the next journal issue. Articles should be 3–7 pages long (7 500–17 500 characters including spaces), and other texts and book reviews 1–3 pages (2 500–7 500 characters including spaces). Submissions are accepted in Finnish or English.
Please send a brief abstract (150–200 words) indicating also the format of your proposed text to eveliina.lyytinen@migrationinstitute.fi and alex.berg@migrationinstitute.fi by 14 November 2025. We will notify authors of acceptance decisions by 28 November, and the first drafts of the texts are due by 30 January 2026. The theme issue will be published in May 2026.
Previous issues of the journal are available at https://siirtolaisuus-migration.journal.fi/issue/archive