Symposium on Steve Vertovec's Superdiversity: Migration and Social Complexity

The most cited article we have published in Ethnic and Racial Studies over the five decades of our existence is by Steve Vertovec, and it was entitled “Superdiversity and its Implications” (Vertovec 2007). This article led to a wide-ranging conversation across disciplinary boundaries and national scholarly traditions. It has helped to fashion research agendas, led to a proliferation of books and journal articles, develop research centres and shape policy debates as well. This impact became evident in the wider European environment, but it is also worth noting that the idea of superdiversity has also had a broader and more global influence (Aptekar 2019; Foner, Duyvendak, and Kasinitz 2019; Vertovec 2019). This influence has been particularly evident in the context of studies of migration and mobility, but it has also helped to shape research agendas in relation to the study of racial and ethnic relations more generally.

In his book on Superdiversity: Migration and Social Complexity (Vertovec 2023), Vertovec has sought to develop a more detailed account of the notion of superdiversity, and to provide a conceptual framework that takes into account the ongoing debates that have evolved over the past two decades. A key objective of the book is to outline the conceptual background to the idea of superdiversity and how it can be utilised to make sense of trends and processes in the world around us. In addition, however, the book seeks to outline the ways that, especially through migration, societies around the world are becoming more diverse not just socially, culturally, religiously and linguistically, but also in the ways that these categories combine with others like gender, age and legal status. On the basis of these analytical arguments, Vertovec argues that superdiversity is a concept referring to the ways that these varying categories combine to shape social configurations that supersede prior forms of diversity, thus helping to shape future trends in societies and urban environments.

To develop a broader conversation on the key themes addressed by Vertovec, we invited three leading researchers to address the core themes that are discussed in this book. The first critical commentary is by Brenda Yeoh (2023) and it is framed by a concern to shift the focus away from the debates about superdiversity in Europe and North America. Yeoh argues that there are important lessons to be learned from utilising superdiversity as a sensitising device to help make sense of the growing evidence of migration-led diversity in the Asian context. In developing her account, she suggests ways in which the global reach of ideas about superdiversity can be extended.

In the second commentary, Nando Sigona (2023) begins by outlining the ways in which the book is helpful in outlining the backstory to the development of the notion of superdiversity. Sigona's commentary then moves on to discuss the ways in which the notion of superdiversity does not fully capture the complexities of what drives migration driven diversification. But he also suggests the importance of engaging with scholarly research on forms of superdiversity to develop our contemporary analysis of the complexities of migrations, refugee movements and processes of minority formation.

The final critical commentary by Miri Song (2023). Song focuses on the value of the notion of superdiversity in framing the multiple levels and intersections of complexity that are evident in contemporary societies impacted by migration. She suggests, in particular, ways in which the analysis of superdiversity can be broadened as we look to understand the complexities of contemporary racial and ethnic diversities.

The symposium is rounded off by a rejoinder from Vertovec (2024) that seeks to address the core arguments of the three commentaries. He engages with the comments outlined in the three commentaries and concludes by addressing the question of “what comes after superdiversity?”

Taken together the symposium raises important issues that will no doubt form part of the ongoing conversations about migration, race and diversity in the contemporary environment. Given the role of Ethnic and Racial Studies in helping to develop the debates about superdiversity, we look forward to continuing to publish high quality contributions in this area of scholarship and research. Over the past two decades, the discussions around this phenomenon have helped to generate both intellectual and policy interest and no doubt as we look to what may come after superdiversity new research questions will evolve.