MIGRATION, MOBILITY, AND THE «FOREIGNER» IN EUROPEAN HISTORIOGRAPHY: FROM MEDIEVAL STUDIES TO CONTEMPORARY INTERPRETATIONS

Abstract

This article is devoted to a historiographical analysis of the concepts of migration, mobility, and the figure of the «foreigner» in European studies, tracing their evolution from medieval scholarship to contemporary interpretations. It examines how both classical and modern works have shaped the perception of medieval society as largely static, portraying mobility primarily as an exception or a consequence of crisis phenomena. Special attention is given to studies demonstrating that, contrary to this long-standing assumption, mobility in historical perspective often had institutional, legal, and social foundations. The analysis highlights that the «foreigner» emerges as a socially and normatively constructed category within religious, educational, and urban contexts. For instance, university «nations» and pilgrimage networks illustrate transregional solidarity and the movement of intellectual and religious elites, showing that mobility was not merely incidental but embedded in structured social practices.
The relevance of the present study is driven by the growing attention in European and global scholarship to issues of migration, mobility, and the understanding of the «foreigner» phenomenon in the context of armed conflicts and transformational societal processes. In this regard, the research conducted by scholars at Zaporizhzhia National University within the framework of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program (Project No. 101182968 – HORIZON TMA MSCA) «Peace and Mobilities» provides a significant interdisciplinary foundation for rethinking historiographical approaches to migration and mobility. By engaging with European historiography from medieval studies to contemporary interpretations the study traces the evolution of the concept of the «foreigner» as a social, cultural, and political construct and deepens the understanding of the connections between population mobility, war, and the formation of models of peace in a historical perspective.
Furthermore, the article traces the evolution of historiographical discourse and methodological approaches to studying mobility, emphasizing the importance of understanding the complex interplay between social structures, legal frameworks, and cultural norms. It demonstrates that, according to the conclusions of most scholars, in the early modern and modern periods, migration ceased to be regarded merely as an episodic phenomenon linked to wars, famines, or other extraordinary events, and instead began to assume more organized and structured forms. These developments underscore the shift from viewing mobility as an anomaly to recognizing it as an integral component of social, economic, and intellectual life in European history. By situating the figure of the «foreigner» within broader institutional and transregional networks, the study provides a nuanced understanding of how social, legal, and religious systems facilitated or constrained movement, shaping patterns of interaction across regions and communities.
The article thus offers a comprehensive framework for interpreting mobility and migration in Europe, combining social, legal, and cultural perspectives. It contributes to the ongoing debate in historiography by demonstrating that mobility has long-standing historical roots and institutional significance, extending beyond individual experiences to influence collective structures and networks. In this way, the study highlights the continuing relevance of historical research for understanding contemporary discussions of migration, social integration, and transregional exchange in Europe.