Negotiating Mobilities and Borders in Digitalising and Globalising Asia
Journée d’étude / Atelier
15-16 June 2026, 10 am – 5:30 pm
Departement of Sociology, National Taiwan University
On the first day of the workshop, five presenters shared their papers, including Prof. Hong Po-Yi, who also offered a behind-the-scenes look at his second manuscript, which will be published in July.
The discussions enriched scholarly debates on oceanic globalization, the role of the state in disseminating ideas of kinship, how migrants leverage digital technologies, and the collaboration between local and migrant workers in Taiwan’s agricultural sector. Every presentation was insightful and thought-provoking.
By tracing the migration of Taiwanese tea, Prof. Po-Yi’s forthcoming book explores how tea has transformed the everyday practices of Taiwanese communities in Thailand. It also sheds light on debates surrounding food nationalism and perceptions of quality between locally produced and imported tea.
Taken together, the first day of the workshop provided stimulating discussions that encouraged us to rethink conventional narratives of mobility and borders.
On the second day of the workshop, three presenters shared their research on the role of networks in shaping migrants’ mobility and aspirations.
One presenter discussed the challenges and aspirations of international students in Taiwan. Another examined ethical issues in the recruitment of migrant workers. Meanwhile, the final presenter shared her research on Vietnamese women working in massage parlors in a Sino-Vietnamese border city.
Following the presentations, audience members took the opportunity to discuss the difficulties faced by international students and the role that states can play in ensuring more ethical recruitment practices and reducing migration-related fees for migrant workers.
This workshop was organized under the FORSEA/ORCHID Project, Global Mobilities in the Digital Age (NSTC/Campus France), in collaboration with CNRS/CEFC, IRASEC, and the Department of Geography at National Taiwan University, under the leadership of Prof. Hong Po-Yi and Dr. Beatrice Zani.
