Research

My doctoral research examines the relationship between democratic transitions and migrant and refugee rights: When citizens (re)articulate their rights through democratic transition processes, what becomes of the rights of non-citizens? Furthermore, what explains the evolution and stagnation of migration and refugee policy in Tunisia since 2011?

In my research, I interview government officials, NGO professionals, and civil society actors who work on issues related to migration to understand both change and continuity in Tunisia’s approach to migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. I am also conducting a cross-national comparative analysis of refugee and migration policies in countries undergoing democratic transitions. My broader research agenda looks at migration studies and refugee politics in comparative perspective, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa.

Publications

Givens, Terri E., Ayca Arkilic, and Elizabeth Davis. 2021. “Immigrant Incorporation.” In Introduction to International Migration: Population Movements in the 21st Century., eds. Jeannette Money and Sarah P. Lockhart. Routledge.

Works in Progress

“Democratization and Attitudes toward Immigrants in the Middle East and North Africa.” With Lamis Abdelaaty.

“Civic Integration and a ‘Moral Obligation’: Article 2 of the Refugee Convention and Refugee Policy in Europe.”

“The Syrian Refugee Crisis: A Disciplinary Exploration of Policy Responses.”