State monitoring and social cohesion: A comparative analysis of European asylum and penal policies and the impact on individuals and communities

This PhD will consider the status of two groups in the community subject to rigorous state monitoring: a) asylum seekers; and b) individuals under criminal justice system (CJS) supervision. The numbers of asylum seekers and those under CJS supervision are steadily increasing in most European countries as a result of global punitive trends in penal policy and a globalised increase in the numbers of people seeking asylum. There is a lack of clarity at a local, national and global level about the most effective ways to cope with growing numbers of these groups, particularly in relation to ensuring social cohesion and effective re/integration.

These two groups are subjected to similar forms of state monitoring including reporting requirements, electronic tagging and curfews. However, little is known about the purpose, prevalence and impact of these forms of surveillance across countries. The research will comprise a comparative analysis of relevant policies examining similarities and differences between these two groups. The effects of state monitoring on individual wellbeing and social cohesion will be the main focus. Our hypothesis is that current policies of heightened state monitoring lead to social stigmatisation and have a detrimental effect on the individuals and communities involved. The objectives are to:

a) understand the ways in which asylum and penal policy impacts the two groups identified and society at large;
b) encourage more comprehensive data collection and sharing of data (nationally and internationally) of the adverse health effects and the impact of state monitoring on social cohesion;
c) develop methodological innovations to measure social cohesion;
d) make recommendations to influence asylum and CJS policy at a local, national and global level.

The research will adopt a range of methodological approaches which will include:

1) Analysis of current legislation and policy relating to asylum and community monitoring across different jurisdictions. This analysis will include a consideration of relevant human rights treaties and other international legal obligations.

2) Qualitative interviews with key stakeholders in order to understand the purpose and effects of these policies across the two populations. Participants will include: policy makers, those involved in criminal justice systems, affected individuals and communities.

3) Comparative analysis of quantitative data to identify macro and individual level outcomes for people in those two groups (including physical and mental health outcomes, as well as proxy measures of integration).

The PhD is interdisciplinary, bringing together law, criminology and political science. Greater transparency of data and more coherent, evidence-based policies around asylum and penal supervision are arguably key to ensuring a more cohesive social future. A PhD student working on these topics will be equipped with the skills to contribute to a pressing area of social policy and will be able to assist communities to adjust to complex global trends.

Applications

Applicants must apply using the online form on the University Alliance website at https://unialliance.ac.uk/dta/cofund/how-to-apply/. Full details of the programme, eligibility details and a list of available research projects can be seen at https://unialliance.ac.uk/dta/cofund/

The final deadline for application is Monday 8 October 2018. There will be another opportunity to apply for DTA3 projects in the spring of 2019. The list of available projects is likely to change for the second intake.