I am interested in ‘policy as practiced’, especially with regards to the delivery of human services, and I enjoy examining the causes and consequences of implementation gaps.
My research focuses on the implementation of various migration policies in different countries Europe and Africa. It combines perspectives from public administration, sociology and social psychology and examines the role of identities, decision-making processes and discretionary practices of individuals who carry out policy tasks on the ground. It contributes primarily towards the field of street-level bureaucracy.
My PhD thesis focused on the so-called European migration crisis of 2015-2017 and examined how those at the frontlines of migration management in Athens and Berlin make decisions under conditions of high uncertainty. It involved the conduction and analysis of 150 qualitative interviews with front-liners across the two capitals. I am currently editing this manuscript as I am preparing my first monograph.
After my PhD, I conducted a small collaborative research project in Senegal, examining the role of migrant returnees in the implementation of European-funded migration information campaigns, which aim to discourage irregular migration towards Europe.
Over the years, I have also worked on various projects concerning gender equality policies, gender beliefs, and gender-based violence. A commissioned, collaborative book on gender equality in Greece is expected to come out in the coming months.