Nations Reversed. National Imaginaries, Images of Migration in Greece and Mexico

Project Information

STREAM

Grant agreement ID: 101031711

DOI

10.3030/101031711

Project closed

EC signature date 2 April 2021

Start date 15 September 2021

End date 14 October 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 241 808,64

EU contribution

€ 241 808,64

Coordinated by

PANTEIO PANEPISTIMIO KOINONIKON KAIPOLITIKON EPISTIMON
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - STREAM (Nations Reversed. National Imaginaries, Images of Migration in Greece and Mexico)

Reporting period: 2023-09-15 to 2024-09-14

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

STREAM explored the visual representations of migration and the “Other” in Oaxaca, Mexico, and Chania, Greece. By comparing these regions, the study investigated the impact of migration imagery on national self-representation. Both countries have faced significant migratory movements and foreign policies that emphasize their historical dependence on Western powers and their unequal political status in relation to the Global North. These dynamics raise important questions about the role of visual images in shaping local and national identities and the effects of these representations on the integration of migrants.
The project examined the interplay between national narratives and the representation of migrants, aiming to understand how images—whether in photographs, artworks, street art, films, or verbal representations—can enhance or hinder the integration of migrants and the perception of the "Other." The study extends beyond typical analyses of migrant representation, focusing on how these images influence the local imaginaries in regions that are themselves often marginalised, reflecting on the broader relationship between nationhood, migration, and local perceptions at national and international levels.STREAM's societal significance lies in exploring the impact of migration imagery on both the host nation and its citizens, moving beyond conventional portrayals of migrants. The research aims to understand how such images shape national self-perceptions and inform local attitudes toward migrants as well as violence. The project addresses the ways that marginalized communities within the nation relate to migrants and questions the politics of representation regarding migrants and the "Other." It also sought to foster solidarity between national populations and migrants, ultimately challenging prevailing stereotypes and promoting more harmonious integration.

By exploring these dimensions, STREAM aimed to understand how different layers of perceptions can improve the representation and integration of the "Other." It concludes that how populations are represented within their own national context influences their perceptions of migrants, leading to varying attitudes toward those from outside. The project highlights the paradox of regions known for their hospitality yet also grappling with xenophobic sentiments, shedding light on how national identity and migration intersect in complex ways.

 

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Specifically, I have received a series of invitations to deliver lectures and present my work at esteemed academic institutions, including Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, McGill University, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Oxford University. These engagements not only broadened my professional network but also enriched my research endeavours by exposing me to diverse perspectives and scholarly insights. In addition to these academic engagements, I had the privilege of being interviewed on a podcast, which further extended the reach of my research to a wider audience. The Outgoing Phase of the project has proven to be exceptionally productive, allowing me to enhance my skill set significantly. I have honed my proficiency in multimodal techniques, such as filmmaking and photography, which are instrumental in my research. Furthermore, I have developed my grant-writing capabilities, refined my writing for publication, and deepened my understanding of the subject matter under investigation. This journey was made possible through the invaluable mentorship and administrative support I received at Harvard, which played a crucial role in my academic growth and the successful execution of the project across various domains of academic work.

During the end of the Period, the Return Phase, I published a peer-reviewed article in a reputable anthropological journal, my first monograph is about to get published by Texas University Press, and I organised an international comparative conference. I was very fortunate to have supportive supervisors and, although the protests in Greek higher education during 2024 meant that I couldn't engage as much with the academic community in the beneficiary institution, I had time to achieve these other accomplishments. I was also invited on various grant committees and film festivals, as a pre-screener. I also have a proposal ready for a second monograph and am working on an edited volume with the conference's participants, including my supervisors Katerina Rozakou and Davíd Carrasco, and informal adviser and mentor, Michael Herzfeld. I'm now much more equipped for the next stage of my career.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The “value of comparison” offered by STREAM’s focus on Greece and Mexico can yield profound insights into the repercussions of visual representations of foreign onto national narratives in comparable yet contrasting settings. Oaxaca and Crete – where fieldwork was conducted – are, indeed, evocative of the contradictions at the heart of all nation-building projects. “Outrageous comparisons” not only allow for fresh perspectives on the study of a phenomena (namely, nationalism and the visible presence of the “other”) that, it seems, have nothing new to offer. Yet, the intersection of migration beyond the usual “bare” subjects of the economic-politic migrant and the refugees from the Global South, to also consider the inverse case and trajectory with the wealthier Northern migrant, and how the combination of these images operates at multiple levels of self-representation (i.e. local, regional, national) provides a perspective that goes beyond the current state of the art. So far, this comparative endeavour has generated powerful insights about the impact of digital nomads and gentrification, a visible phenomenon of alterity, in both places. It has also highlighted the different levels of constructions of local identity in relation to the dynamics between different countries, most notably those representing the Global North. These findings have been diffused and discussed with students and academics both at the host and partner institutions in Greece and the United States. Until the end of the project, this study will form the basis for a policy proposal on representation of otherness at the public level in order to facilitate harmony and integration, foster common ground and solidarity instead of racism and xenophobia in populations that routinely witness violent pushbacks of migrants. For its political sensitivity and timeliness, I anticipate a high level of interest for the comparative angle of this study as the results will extends beyond regional and disciplinary boundaries. Indeed, it is precisely the vantage point offered by the intersection of nationalism and alterity in these specific contexts that promises in-depth conversations and theoretical reflections that will extend way beyond these locales.

As I will publish the findings of this project, the expected societal impact is to understand better the mechanisms of racist and xenophobic thinking in population that are already othered by their respective governments. It is also to understand how images can be used to shift these kinds of narrative, but also how they relate to other societal and environmental crises.

Virgin of Guadalupe and Mexican flag