Konfession und Migrationsregime in der Frühen Neuzeit.

The article explores the history of migration in the early modern period in Europe (18th century), and the consequences this history has had on the development of the academic study of European migration. The article claims that the dichotomous and essentialist categories with which the academic study of migration has been working, are inaccurate and misleading. The latter conclusion requires an historically contextualized reconfiguration of the quintessential categories with which migration studies work. It is thus essential to explore the relationships between immigrants, communities and the management of these communities, the reasons for migration, the relationship between norm and deviation from norms, between majority and minority, and the importance of the state and of social order.