Method

MAGnituDe offers a unique SensArticulate methodology to study emotions, identities, and belongings in the context of war and displacement. SensArticulate methods encompass art-based, experiential, and embodied techniques for investigating sensitive issues in a traumatic context of the mass displacement due to the military conflict.

 

• “Sens” stands for sensitivity in handling traumatic topics and the sensorial dimension of experience.
• “Art” highlights the use of artistic practices to go beyond verbal-centered knowledge to capture unspeakable.
• “Iculate” (from articulate) emphasizes the goal of giving analytical expression to affect.

 

By placing affect—the deep emotional responses and embodied experiences of people—at the centre, MAGnituDe develops methods that capture what often remains unspoken or underrepresented in traditional research. In the context of military conflict and forced displacement, these methods not only deepen understanding of trauma and identity but also open pathways for democratic participation through empathetic engagement.

 

MAGnituDe uses its SensArticulate framework to develop several analytical approaches:

• Affective Geopolitics helps us understand how geopolitical narratives shape domestic asylum and immigration policies, influencing the everyday lives of forced displaced persons (FDPs).
• Temporality and Uncertainty are examined through a comparative perspective, analysing how waiting, insecurity, and unstable futures affect trust between FDPs and state institutions across different countries.
• Conviviality is used to explore practices of coexistence and togetherness in diverse societies, focusing on how FDPs interact with other migrant groups and host communities.

 

Together,  our methods and approaches enable MAGnituDe to capture the complex interplay between emotions, policies, and everyday encounters, offering fresh insights into how displacement and belonging are shaped in contemporary Europe.