Researchers: Professor Gwendolyn Sasse (with Dr Félix Krawatzek, Dr Juta Kawalerowicz and Dr Sarah Garding) Funder: Leverhulme Trust What do migrants send ‘home’ in addition to, or even instead of, money? Are migrants agents of political and social change in their homelands? This project extends the discussion of migrants’ impacts to include ‘political’ and ‘social’ remittances. We know a lot about the developmental impacts of migrants’ economic remittances, but much less about the ideas, identities and practices which migrants send home or carry with them when they return. The project explores the factors that determine whether and how migrants stay in touch with their homelands. Do these patterns of interaction differ by migrant group and/or historical period? How do migrants understand …

Researcher: Dr Joseph Lacey Do divided societies actually benefit from being more democratic? Since the nineteenth century, the dominant view in political theory has been that political systems made up of multiple public spheres, each with different social and political identities are likely to struggle for legitimacy. This, it is argued, leads to poor quality political institutions and ultimately the break-up of the political system through devolution or secession. This tendency is expected to be compounded when the population speak different languages. The European Union demonstrates nearly all of these features. The traditional view would seem to be that it is doomed to failure. The UK’s ‘Brexit’ referendum appears to bear this out, as claims of undemocratic rule and missing …

Researcher: Professor David Miller What are the underlying values which should guide policy on immigration? In all areas of policy, open debate of the values which inform decision-making is an essential part of the democratic process.  Since immigration has implications for many other areas of public provision and economic policy, such public scrutiny is even more important. Yet, the topic of immigration remains fraught and the unprecedented refugee crisis playing out in Europe has heightened the already acute political challenges bound in with public debates. Professor Miller’s writing and research in political philosophy has worked to set a framework for thinking about how immigration can work under democratic control. He has sought to define principles and apply criteria that will stand …