Centre for Migration, Diaspora, Citizenship and Identity (CMDCI)

• Typologies of migration and mobility, exploring the diverse drivers behind migration patterns, including international/internal/circular and seasonal migration and their interrelated characteristics
• The politics and policy of migration
• Integration and social inclusion/exclusion of migrant communities and individuals
• Experiences and practices of ‘superdiversities’ in rural and urban contexts
• The lived experience of migration
• Education and language activity within migrant communities

• The complex socio-political and economic relationships between diaspora and home communities
• Diaspora engagement with the homeland
• Diaspora connectivity with homelands in the everyday
• Diaspora governance from and across local, national, and international levels
• The actions and behaviours of diaspora communities
• The ‘voice’ and presence of diasporas in the homeland and abroad

• Forms of civic participation and ‘acts’ of citizenship among home, migrant and diaspora communities
• The changing nature of citizenship in the context of growing mobility within contemporary societies across the world
• Citizenship rights and practices among home and migrant communities
• Citizenship formation among home, migrant and diaspora communities
• Health and wellbeing as citizenship activity and engagement

• Role and meanings of identity in forming, developing, and maintaining communities
• The consideration of multiple forms of belonging in context of growing mobility and ‘superdiversity’ in the contemporary world
• Identity performance among, and between, community groups
• Social and community activities, practices and norms
• The everyday lived experience of identity

• “Rural Living and Place Making among Migrant and Non-Migrant communities in Scotland” (PI: Dr Emilia Pietka-Nykaza, funded by Carnegie Trust). This research project captures the experiences of diverse rural stayers (both migrants and non-migrants) living in the Inner Moray Firth area of the Scottish Highlands.  The project findings provide insights into factors shaping the process of staying among diverse rural stayers and their contribution to rural community living. Further details about the project are available via https://www.rurallivingscotland.com
• “Refugee integration in Scotland, long-term perspective” (PI: Dr Emilia Pietka-Nykaza, funded by the Royal Society of Edinburgh Research Workshop Grant). This project brings together scholars, practitioners and refugee-lead groups through series of workshops to co-produce research proposal on refugee staying and integration in a longer-term perspective.

• Scottish Connections Research (PI: Professor Murray Leith, commissioned by the Scottish Government). This research provided insights into what a successful diaspora policy should consider and include. A wide ranging analysis, conducted among the worldwide Scottish diaspora, involved speaking to leading groups and individuals in several countries, as well as undertaking a comparison with three international Government’s policy behaviours. It underpinned the development of a framework around Scottish diaspora activity, which was published by the Scottish Government in early 2023. Further details about the project final report are available via: https://www.gov.scot/publications/literature-review-scottish-governments-scottish-connections-diaspora-work-2/

• ‘Assistive Technology and Health Telecare for Veterans’ (PI: Professor Murray Leith, funded by the Cabinet Office for Veterans). This research sees Centre evaluate health services for ex-service men and women (provided by Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) and NHS Lanarkshire) within the community through the innovative utilisation of assistive technologies to better support their health care and wellbeing of ex-armed forces veterans with complex needs. It specifically considers the support provided for these citizens as a result of their previous military service.
• ‘Unforgotten Forces’, PI: Dr Liz Frondigoun, funded by the Aged Veterans Fund/MoD Libor funds) .This 3 year evaluation project undertook an assessment of a Poppyscotland led consortium delivering health, social and community services to older (65 years plus) ex-armed forces men and women within Scotland. The evaluation considered the support offered to these older citizens as a result of their previous military service and status as Veterans. The UWS Team assessed the service delivery and support available to older veterans and their overall service delivery experience. Further information is available here.

• ‘RU EU? A game-based Approach to exploring 21st century European Identity and Values’ (Co-PIs: Dr Elizabeth Boyle & Prof Murray Leith, funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU). This project developed an innovative digital game, the RU EU? game, to provide an engaging platform for students across Europe to confront some of the complex issues surrounding National and European identity. The goal was to help these young Europeans to develop a better understanding of their own and others’ feelings of belonging to, or alienation from, the EU and assist them in understanding their attitudes towards their identity and citizenship.

Name: Professor Murray Leith
Position: Professor of Political Science and Director
Email: Murray.Leith@uws.ac.uk
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/murray-leith

Name: Dr Emilia Pietka-Nykaza
Position: Senior Lecturer and Co-Director
Email: emilia.pietka-nykaza@uws.ac.uk
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/emilia-pietka-nykaza

Name: Dr Rosie Alexander
Position: Lecturer
Email: rosie.alexander@uws.ac.uk  
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/rosie-alexander

Name: Professor Colin Clark 
Position: Professor of Sociology   
Email: colin.clark@uws.ac.uk  
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/colin-clark

Name:  Dr Liz Frondigoun 
Position: Research Fellow 
Email: liz.frondigoun@uws.ac.uk   

Name:  Ian Gillan 
Position: Academic Development Consultant 
Email: ian.gillan@uws.ac.uk    
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/ian-gillan-2

Name: Dr Rebecca Gordon  
Position: Lecturer 
Email: rebecca.gordon@uws.ac.uk   
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/rebecca-gordon

Name: Dr Nicola Hay   
Position: Lecturer    
Email: nicola.hay@uws.ac.uk     
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/nicola-hay-2

Name: Dr Katy Highet   
Position: Lecturer    
Email: katy.highet@uws.ac.uk      
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/katy-highet

Name: Dr Klement Camaj
Position: Lecturer
Email: klement.camaj@uws.ac.uk
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/klement-camaj-2

Name: Dr Fernando Leon-Solis    
Position: Senior Lecturer    
Email: Fernando.Leon-solis@uws.ac.uk
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/fernando-leon-solis

Name: Dr Charis Manousou
Position: Lecturer
Email: charis.manousou@uws.ac.uk
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/charis-manousou

Name: Dr Diarmuid McDonell    
Position: Lecturer
Email: diarmuid.mcdonell@uws.ac.uk
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/diarmuid-mcdonnell

Name: Dr Anna McKeever    
Position: Lecturer
Email: anna.mckeever@uws.ac.uk
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/anna-mckeever

Name: Dr David McKeever    
Position: Lecturer
Email: david.mckeever@uws.ac.uk
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/david-mckeever

Name: Dr Maria Sapouna     
Position: Senior Lecturer
Email: maria.sapouna@uws.ac.uk 
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/maria-sapouna

Name: Dr Amanda Simpson     
Position: Lecturer
Email: amanda.simpson@uws.ac.uk 
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/amanda-simpson

Name: Dr Duncan Sim
Position: Honorary Senior Research Fellow
Email: Duncan.sim@uws.ac.uk

Name: John Sturgeon       
Position: Lecturer
Email: john.sturgeon@uws.ac.uk 
PURE profile link: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/persons/john-sturgeon

Colleagues within CMDCI have links, and work with the following organisations

The Advisory Council for the Education of Romanies and other Travellers - https://acert.org.uk/about-acert/

Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights - https://www.crer.org.uk/about

Defence Medical Welfare Services - https://dmws.org.uk/

Romano Lav https://www.romanolav.org/

Scottish Human Rights Commission - https://www.scottishhumanrights.com/  

The Traveller Movement - https://travellermovement.org.uk/

Show the Racism Red Card - https://www.tatdcard.org/scotland/

Alexander, R. (31st March 2020) 'Enhancing Wellbeing in Our Island Communities: Final Evaluation Report' Voluntary Action Orkney. Available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60252bd25b040633af136732/t/61fd4e59f7c241389ae47977/1643990619783/Phase+1_+Final+Evaluation.pdf  

Alexander, R (2021) ‘Young people, out-migration and Scottish Islands: Surveying the landscape in Burnett, Burnett and Danson (eds) Scotland and Islandness: Explorations in Community, Economy and Culture. pp143-168, Available at: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1058288  

Alexander, R. (2021) ‘Career Development and Internal Migration: A Scottish case study’ British Journal of Guidance and Counselling DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2021.1934654

Brooks, E., Clark, C. and Rostas, I. (2022) Engaging with decolonisation, tackling antigypsyism: lessons from teaching Romani studies at the Central European University in Hungary, Social Policy and Society, 21(1): p.68-79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1474746421000452

Browne, C., McDonagh, C. and Clark, C., (2022) 'A space for me, but what about my family?': the experiences of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller student carers in UK Higher Education, in Hook, G., Moreau, M-P. & Brooks, R. (eds.). Student Carers in Higher Education: Navigating, Resisting, and Re-Inventing Academic Cultures. London: Routledge, p.73-87., Available at: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003177104-6/space-family-christine-browne-chelsea-mcdonagh-colin-clark

Browning, P., Highet, K., Douek, T., Gong, Y., Palacios, R., Sunyol, A., (2022) ‘Conspiring’ to Decolonise Language Teaching and Learning: reflections and reactions from a reading group, London Review of Education, Available at: https://uclpress.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14324/LRE.20.1.42

Highet, K., and Del Percio, A., (2021) ‘Hard work, growth mindset, fluent English: navigating contradictions in neoliberal logic’, in M. Sardoc (Ed.), The Impacts of Neoliberal Discourse and Language in Education: Critical Perspectives on a Rhetoric of Equality, Well-Being and Justice. Routledge Studies in Education, Neoliberalism and Marxism, pp. 100-119, Available at: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780367815172-7/hard-work-growth-mindset-fluent-english-katy-highet-alfonso-del-percio

Highet, K. (2022) ‘Indian Matchmaking: English can be a valuable asset for young women seeking husbands – but it can also backfire’, The Conversation, Available at: https://theconversation.com/indian-matchmaking-english-can-be-a-valuable-asset-for-young-women-seeking-husbands-but-it-can-also-backfire-189505

Highet, K. (2022) ‘She will control my son’: navigating womanhood and English in the struggle for social mobility in India, Journal of Sociolinguistics, Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/josl.12567

Highet, K; Del Percio, A; (2021) When linguistic capital isn’t enough: Personality development and English speakerhood as capital in India. In: Petrovic, JE and Yazan, B, (eds.) The Commodification of Language: Conceptual Concerns and Empirical Manifestations. (pp. 127-143) 10.4324/9781003028581-91a

McKeever, A. (2020) Immigration Policy and Right-Wing Populism in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan. Available at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-41761-1

McKeever, A. (2021) ‘Explaining policy deadlock: The case of Sarkozy’s integration policy’, French Politics , Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41253-020-00105-x

Mulvey, G., Ahmed, T. and Clark, C. (2022) Race and migration in Scotland, in Gall, G. (ed.) A New Scotland: Building an Equal, Fair and Sustainable Society. London: Pluto Press p.195-206. Available at: https://myresearchspace.uws.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/30843439/2021_10_18_Mulvey_et_al_Race_final.pdf

Pietka-Nykaza, E. Clark C. and Leith M. (2020) Scotland and Brexit: Citizenship, identity and belonging, Scottish Affairs, 29 (3), 293-304, Available at: https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/scot.2020.0324

Pietka-Nykaza, E., Pemberton, S and Hof H. (2021) EU migrant retention and the temporalities of migrant staying, Comparative Migration Studies. 9 (19), 1-18, Available at: https://comparativemigrationstudies.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40878-021-00225-5

Pietka-Nykaza E. and Baillot H.(2022) “This is my place” Summary report of Rural Living Project. Available at: https://www.rurallivingscotland.com/uploads/1/4/1/6/141638142/rural_living_project_40pp_230622_proofv3.pdf

Pietka-Nykaza E. and Baillot H.(2022) Rural Staying Project : Briefing Paper One - Staying in Rural Places Available at: https://www.rurallivingscotland.com/uploads/1/4/1/6/141638142/rural_living_project_briefing_paper_240622_proofv2.pdf

Pietka-Nykaza E. and Baillot H.(2022) Rural Staying Project : Briefing Paper Two - When and how do people get involved in their rural communities? Available at: https://www.rurallivingscotland.com/uploads/1/4/1/6/141638142/rural_living_project_briefing_paper_2_proofv2.pdf

Leith, M. and Sim, D. (2020) ‘‘Brexit’ and the Scots in England: a diaspora facing uncertainty?’ Scottish Affairs. 29, 3. Available at: https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/scot.2020.0328

Leith, M and Sim, D. (2021). 'We're No' Awa' Tae Bide Awa': Scotland's Returning Diaspora' Scottish Affairs, 30(4), pp. 450-471, Available at: https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/full/10.3366/scot.2021.0384

Leith, M and Sim, D (2022) 'Will ye no' come back again?': Population challenge and diaspora policy in Scotland'. Population, Space and Place, (early view version) https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2572.

Leith, M and Sim, D. (2022) Qualitative Research for the Scottish Government’s Scottish Connections (Diaspora) Work. Scottish Government. Available at https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/research-and-analysis/2022/10/literature-review-scottish-governments-scottish-connections-diaspora-work-2/documents/qualitative-research-scottish-governments-scottish-connections-diaspora-work/qualitative-research-scottish-governments-scottish-connections-diaspora-work/govscot%3Adocument/qualitative-research-scottish-governments-scottish-connections-diaspora-work.pdf

Leith, M and Sim, D (2023) 'A Second Scottish Independence Referendum: Should the Diaspora get a vote?' Political Quarterly, (early view version) http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.13235

Alexander, R; Holm, A-E; Hansen, D; Vahl, K M (2020) ‘Career Guidance in Nordic Self-Governing Regions: Opportunities and Challenges’ in Haug, Hooley, Kettunen and Thomsen (eds) Career and Career Guidance in the Nordic Countries. Brill Sense: Leiden. pp.65-80. Available at: https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004428096/BP000013.xml

Alexander, R. Skipp, A & Tanner, E (2020) Experiences of workplaces: Practical ideas from schools and colleges for achieving Gatsby Benchmark 6 The Careers and Enterprise Company. Available at: https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/sites/default/files/2021-09/Practical%20ideas%20from%20schools%20and%20colleges%20for%20achieving%20Gatsby%20Benchmark%206.pdf

Douglas-Smith, N., Simpson, A., Kaparounaki, K., & Sidhva, D. (2021). Views of higher education at home: lessons learnt. Stay Home Stories , London , United Kingdom https://www.stayhomestories.co.uk/covid-19-and-home-symposium

Frondigoun, L., Campbell, R., Leith, M., Sturgeon, J. & Thomas, L. (2020) ‘Identification/non-identification among U.K. veterans in Scotland’ Journal of Veterans Studies. 6, 3, p. 12-22 11 p. Available at: https://journal-veterans-studies.org/articles/10.21061/jvs.v6i3.215

Frondigoun, L., Campbell, R., Leith, M., Sturgeon, J., Thomas, L. & Innes, D. (2021), The Unforgotten Forces Project Final Report: An Evaluation of Support for Older Veterans in

Scotland, Paisley: University of the West of Scotland. Available at: https://www.poppyscotland.org.uk/docs/default-source/poppyscotland-documents/unforgotten-forces---an-evaluation-of-support-for-older-veterans-in-scotland---exec-report31a93749-10f9-474a-b80f-5ff7bf1fd18e.pdf?sfvrsn=776006b9_3

Hay, N., Campbell, L., Kowalewska, M., Clark, C., Tammi, L., and Balogh, B. 2020. “A Hidden Community: Justifying the Inclusion of Roma as an Ethnic Identity in the 2021 Scottish Census.” Critical Romani Studies 3 (1): 46–71. Available at: https://crs.ceu.edu/index.php/crs/article/view/62

Hooley, T; Percy, C & Alexander, R. (2021) Exploring Scotland’s Career Ecosystem: Evidence to support the Career Review Skills Development Scotland, Available at: https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/media/48397/exploring_scotlands_career_ecosystem.pdf

Jones, K., Ksaifi, L. and Clark, C. (2022) ‘The biggest problem we are facing is the running away problem’: placement agencies and the paradox of facilitating the mobility of immobile workers, Work, Employment and Society (online 07-08-22) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/09500170221094764

Leith, M and Sim, D. (2020) Scotland: The New State of an Old Nation. Manchester University Press. Available at: https://www.manchesterhive.com/display/9781526127792/9781526127792.xml

Maciejewski, G., Simpson, A., Boyle, L., Jimoyiannis, A., McCrory, M., Olstad, H. A., Petersen, S. A., Skimina, E., Topolewska-Siedzik, E., Tsiotakis, P. & Scott, G. G. (2020). A Literature Review Looking at Graduate Employability Skills (GESs): GES App Report 1: Review of the GES literature. Paisley: University of the West of Scotland, Available at: https://research-portal.uws.ac.uk/en/publications/a-literature-review-looking-at-graduate-employability-skills-gess

McCall, V., Rolfe, S., Matthews, P., Wallace, A., Manyika, G., Iafrati, S., Clark, C., and Munro, M. (2022) ‘The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on UK Housing Policy: How do we rebuild the foundations of the ‘wobbly pillar’? in Jolly, A., Cefalo, R., and Pomati, M. (eds.) Social Policy Review 34: Analysis and Debate in Social Policy, 2022, Bristol: Bristol Policy Press. Available at: https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/social-policy-review-34

Pietka-Nykaza E., McGhee D. (2020) Complexities of Polish migrant's citizenship attributions in the context of Brexit and the Scottish Independence Referendums, Scottish Affair, 29 (3), 386-402, Available at: https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/scot.2020.0330

Simpson, A., Douglas-Smith, N., Kaparounaki, K., & Sidhva, D. (2022). Changing Rooms: Navigating the ethical and technical challenges of exploring workspaces online. SAGE Research Methods: Doing Research Online, SAGE Publications, Available at:  https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529601374  

Sturgeon, J. & Leygue-Eurieult, E. (2020) ‘Les besoins avant les actes »: le Children’s Hearing écossais et l’héritage durable de Lord Kilbrandon’ (translated title of the contribution: "Needs not deeds": the Scottish Children's Hearing and the enduring heritage of Lord Kilbrandon) In: Criminocorpus: Histoire de la justice, des crimes, et des peines. 26 p.

Boyle, L., Terras, M., Leith, M., Sim, D., Jimoyiannis, T., Baalsrud Hauge, J., Sultan Tany, N., Hummel, H. and Jandrić, P. ‘Serious games as a means to promote thinking about European identity’ (2021) Digital Culture and Education, 13(2), Available at: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cf15af7a259990001706378/t/614b08a52a3368279f325fd9/1632307368542/13_2_5_Boyle_etal.pdf

Campbell, L. and Hay, N., 2020. Show racism the red card. In Community Development for Social Change (pp. 227-235). Routledge., Available at: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315528618-39/show-racism-red-card-luke-campbell-nicola-hay

Jimoyiannis, A., Boyle, E. A., Tsiotakis, P., Terras, M. M. & Leith, M. S., (2022) Exploring the impact of the ‘RUEU?’ game on Greek students’ perceptions of and attitudes to European identity. Frontiers in Psychology. 13, p834-846. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.834846/full

Leith, M (2023) ‘Nicola Sturgeon resignation: the unanswered questions for Scotland and the SNP she leaves behind’ The Conversation. Available at https://theconversation.com/nicola-sturgeon-resignation-the-unanswered-questions-for-scotland-and-the-snp-she-leaves-behind-200010#comment_2897619

Leith, M (2022) ‘Scottish independence: what has changed since the last referendum?’ The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/scottish-independence-what-has-changed-since-the-last-referendum-185985#comment_2834486

Leith, M (2020) 'Scotland: society and culture' in The Routledge Handbook of British Politics and Society by Mark Garnett, Routledge, Available at: https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-British-Politics-and-Society/Garnett/p/book/9780367494810

Leith, M and Sim, D (2022) Indifference or Hostility? Anti-Scottishness in a Post-Brexit England. Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289X.2022.2064082  

León-Solís, F., O’Donnell, H. (2021) Someone Else’s Crisis? UK Press Coverage of the Failed 2017 Catalan Declaration of Independence. In: Agustín (ed) Catalan Independence and the Crisis of Sovereignty, Palgrave MacMillan, Available at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-54867-4_9

León-Solís, F (ed) (In press for 2023) The nation in the time of pandemic: international media narratives of the covid-19 crisis’  to be published by Palgrave Mcmillan

Sapouna, M., DeAmicis, L., & Vezzali, L. (in press) Bullying victimization due to racial, ethnic, citizenship and/or religious status: A systematic review. Adolescent Research Review, Available at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40894-022-00197-2

Sim, D., Boyle, L., Jimoyiannis, T., Leith, M., Williams, A. and  Tsiotakis, P. (2020)  ‘Learning about Europe through educational gaming’ Journal of Geography in Higher Education. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/03098265.2020.1803816

Van der Zwet, A., Leith M. S., and Sim, D. (2020) ‘What does Brexit tell us about our understanding of European Identity?’ Political Quarterly, Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1467-923X.12734