German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

Short CV

Since 01/2022: Senior Researcher at the Department for Migration and Globalisation at Danube University Krems and Associate at GIGA Institute of Middle East Studies
09/2019 - 12/2021: Research Fellow at GIGA Institute of Middle East Studies
2017 - 2019: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Sociology, University of Amsterdam
2016 - 2017: OxPo Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford
2011 - 2017: Lecturer (2015-2017) and PhD Researcher (2011-2016) at the Department of Oriental Studies, University of Vienna
2012 - 2016: PhD Researcher at the Centre de Recherches Internationales (CERI), Sciences Po Paris
Education: 2011-2016: Joint PhD in Political Science and Arabic Studies (Sciences Po Paris & University of Vienna) Dissertation “Transnational Politics Beyond the Arab Uprisings. Egyptian Activism in Vienna and Paris” (2016 Award of Excellence, Austrian Ministry of Science, Research & Economy); 2009-2010: M.A. in Comparative Politics (specialisation Middle East and Muslim World) at Sciences Po Paris; 2005-2010: Magister in Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Vienna; 2007-2008: Erasmus exchange at the Institut National des Langues et Cultures Orientales (INALCO), Paris; 2006-2009: B.A. in Political Science, University of Vienna

Current Research

(Im)mobility in the context of conflict and war
Drivers of (forced) migration
Migration governance
Diaspora politics and transnational political participation

Countries and Regions

North Africa
Middle East
Europe

Research Programmes

Peace and Security

Awards

Award for GIGA researchers: Dr. Christiane Fröhlich and Dr. Lea Müller-Funk win Routledge Area Studies Interdisciplinarity Award, Routledge Publishing Ltd., Taylor and Francis Publishing Group, 2023
IMISCOE Rinus Penninx Best Paper Award 2019, International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion (IMISCOE), 2020
Migration Politics Fellowship 2021, International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion (IMISCOE), 2020
Award of Excellence, Austrian Ministry of Science, Research & Economy (BMWFW), 2016

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

[email protected]

Externalizing Asylum: A Compendium of Scientific Knowledge | 08/2024

Externalising Perceived Crises: A View from Europe’s Southern and Eastern Neighbours

European discourses on migration have historically been dominated by a crisis narrative, often centred around the influx of non-EU migrants. This Eurocentric perspective has led to policies focusing on externalising border control through agreements with neighbouring non-EU countries, such as the EU-Turkey Deal in 2016 and proposed ‘disembarkation platforms’ in North Africa in 2018.

Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

International Migration Review | 06/2023

Disentangling Forced Migration Governance: Actors and Drivers along the Displacement Continuum

In this paper, we study the question of who and what drives forced migration governance in origin, host, and transit states, drawing on empirical material from the contemporary Syrian and Libyan, and the historical Algerian displacement situations.

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

Dr. André Bank

Migration Politics | 03/2023

Mobility Control as State-Making in Civil War: Forcing Exit, Selective Return and Strategic Laissez-Faire

This paper by Dr. Christiane Fröhlich and Dr. Lea Müller-Funk addresses the question of how different actors govern mobility during civil war, and how mobility control and processes of state-making interact in such settings.

Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

Infographic | 2023

(Im)Mobility Trajectories in Conflict Settings

This infographic illustrates the (im)mobility trajectories in conflict settings, specifically focusing on Syria. It highlights various regions and the displacement patterns within these conflict zones. Key areas depicted include Idlib, Aleppo, Damascus, and surrounding regions.

Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

Infographic | 2023

Forced Migration Governance from a Comparative Perspective

This infographic titled "Forced Migration Governance from a Comparative Perspective" compares the governance approaches to three different cases of forced displacement: Algerian Displacement (1956-1962), Syrian Displacement (2011–Present) and Libyan Displacement (2011–Present).

Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

Research Project | 01/09/2020 - 31/08/2022

Teaching Immigration in European Schools

Migration has always been an intrinsic part of human societies across the globe. People have been mobile to lead a nomadic life, to explore the planet, to flee persecution and violence, to find work, or to pursue education. Yet, migration is often dealt with as a side-topic in school curricula. This stands in stark contrast to its omnipresence in public debates. This project brings academic knowledge of migration to European classrooms to convey a more comprehensive understanding of migration and hereby foster students’ critical thinking.
National Geographic, 2020-2022

Research Project | 01/11/2018 - 30/04/2023

Migration Governance and Asylum Crises, Work Package "Comparing Crises" (MAGYC)

This project explores how European migration policies are influenced by political crises triggered by (forced) migration. At a time when such policies are heavily contested across European member-states, and when asylum seems more threatened than ever, this project is critically important to improve our understanding of how migration policies are formulated and shaped by a context of crisis. The project gathers 13 partners from diverse European countries, as well as from Lebanon and Turkey, and GIGA leads the Work Package “Comparing Crises”.
EC, Horizon 2020, 2018-2023

Open Democracy | Article | 08/07/2020

‘You feel like in prison here’: imagining a future in Lebanon through Syrian eyes

Open Democracy | Expert Comment / Guest Contribution | 06/07/2020

The refugees who dare to aspire

Expert Comment / Guest Contribution | 01/09/2017

Kein Ende in Sicht: Libanesische Flüchtlingspolitik im sechsten Jahr des syrischen Bürgerkriegs

Other | 15/07/2021

Migration policies in Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Niger

Migration Policies in Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Niger, Online Event Dr. Lea Müller-Funk (Speaker), Ass. Prof. Dr. Kathatrina Natter (Speaker)

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

Ass. Prof. Dr. Kathatrina Natter

International Migration Institute

Conference | 07/07/2021 - 09/07/2021

18th IMISCOE Annual Conference

18th IMISCOE Annual Conference, Online Event Organisers: International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion, Erasmus University Rotterdam Dr. Lea Müller-Funk (Moderator), Dr. Christiane Fröhlich (Organiser)

Co-organisation of panel "Governing Migration" Session #227 workshop | SC Migration Politics and Governance

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Conference | 07/07/2021 - 09/07/2021

18th IMISCOE Annual Conference

18th IMISCOE Annual Conference, Online Event Organisers: International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion, Erasmus University Rotterdam Dr. Lea Müller-Funk (Organiser), Ass. Prof. Dr. Aysen Üstübici (Organiser), Dr. Milena Belloni (Organiser)

Co-organiser of panel Changing Aspirations in Contexts of Forced Migration
Session #125 workshop | SC Reflexive Migration Studies

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Ass. Prof. Dr. Aysen Üstübici

Dr. Milena Belloni

Teaching | University of Amsterdam | 2019

Dynamics of International Migration and Migrant Integration

University of Amsterdam Amsterdam Netherlands

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Short CV

Current Research

Countries and Regions

Research Programmes

Awards

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Publications

Externalising Perceived Crises: A View from Europe’s Southern and Eastern Neighbours

Disentangling Forced Migration Governance: Actors and Drivers along the Displacement Continuum

Mobility Control as State-Making in Civil War: Forcing Exit, Selective Return and Strategic Laissez-Faire

(Im)Mobility Trajectories in Conflict Settings

Forced Migration Governance from a Comparative Perspective

Research Projects

Teaching Immigration in European Schools

Migration Governance and Asylum Crises, Work Package "Comparing Crises" (MAGYC)

Media Contributions

‘You feel like in prison here’: imagining a future in Lebanon through Syrian eyes

The refugees who dare to aspire

Kein Ende in Sicht: Libanesische Flüchtlingspolitik im sechsten Jahr des syrischen Bürgerkriegs

Lectures

Migration policies in Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Niger

18th IMISCOE Annual Conference

18th IMISCOE Annual Conference

Teaching

Dynamics of International Migration and Migrant Integration

Notification

Social Media