Early-stage researchers

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself and your research interests?
Inés Arco Escriche is a research fellow at CIDOB (Barcelona Centre for International Affairs) working on Chinese politics, especially China’s foreign policy and presence in the Mediterranean. Graduated in East Asian Studies from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), she holds a MA in International Relations from IBEI. She previously worked at the International Climate Development Institute (ICDI) in Taiwan, working on climate action and sustainable development policies. She works on the influence of domestic issues in Chinese foreign policy, China’s presence in the Mediterranean and the impact of the (re)emergence of China on the liberal international order.

What is your role in the SHAPEDEM-EU team within your organisation? What are you currently working on within the scope of SHAPEDEM-EU?
I am currently a researcher, working on WP6 on the impact of Non-EU External Actors in the practices of democracy support in the Southern and Eastern Neighborhoods. I am currently working on China’s contestation and impact on the EU’s democracy support practices, which is a fascinating area of research. Additionally, I am also WP6 Deputy Leader, which requires me to work with the WP Leader and all our partners very closely, being able to support them and especially, learning a lot thanks to them.

What does it mean for you to be part of SHAPEDEM-EU?
Being part of SHAPEDEM-EU is a huge opportunity to contribute to a better understanding of the current state of democracy and existing challenges. And, personally, I consider that being part of the project is such an amazing chance to also learn from other researchers working on different topics and different local realities, making this experience a very enriching one. And, of course, I am very grateful for being able to meet and build exchanges with many inspiring researchers and activists!

How does working in the team of an international research project influence your work?
Working in SHAPEDEM-EU with many brilliant researchers is encouraging me to develop my critical thinking and strive for excellence by providing the best quality, fact-based research. Being able to debate and exchange different views on different areas of interest also challenges me to broaden my knowledge and my perspective in many areas and regions.

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself and your research interests?
I am junior researcher in IAI’s Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa research programme. My research interests include the study of transitional justice policies in authoritarian and conflict contexts – with a particular focus on the Maghreb region.

What is your role in the SHAPEDEM-EU team within your organisation? What are you currently working on within the scope of SHAPEDEM-EU?
I am currently in charge of assisting the research carried out by the IAI team and supporting the coordination of the activities in Work Package 4. Our organisation leads the study of EU democracy support and democratic practices in the eastern and southern neighbourhoods. Together with the partners involved we seek to unpack how democracy as a norm and practice of EU foreign policy is discursively contested within the EU, and how discursive practices translate into behavioural practices.

What does it mean for you to be part of SHAPEDEM-EU?
It means having the great opportunity to explore how democracy as a norm and democracy support as a practice has entered and evolved in EU foreign policy towards the Southern Neighbourhood, while also contributing to the innovative Democracy Learning Loop model.

How does working in the team of an international research project influence your work?
Being part of such an international consortium allows me to work in an intellectually rich and stimulating environment. It also gives me the opportunity to combine a more academic approach to research, with a policy-oriented one.

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself and your research interests?
I am an early carrier researcher and doctoral candidate at Justus-Liebig University of Giessen (JLU). My expertise lies in studying civil society associations within authoritarian regimes, Eurasian geopolitics and research methods. Murad's passion for scholarship extends to teaching (6 years in total) and consulting support (over 10 years) to private companies, INGOs and IGOs.

What is your role in the SHAPEDEM-EU team within your organisation? What are you currently working on within the scope of SHAPEDEM-EU?
Throughout my recent tenure in SHAPEDEM-EU, my primary focus revolved around fortifying the project's methodological framework, encompassing the development of the Methods Manual, the establishment of a Living Lab, and the conduction of surveys. Additionally, I delved into captivating case studies exploring the intricate dynamics of democracy and autocracy, including reflective analyses on the democratization landscape in Azerbaijan and a compelling investigation into Russia's role as a prominent promoter of autocracy in the Eastern Neighbourhood.

What does it mean for you to be part of SHAPEDEM-EU?
My involvement with SHAPEDEM-EU has been a thrilling journey, characterized by frequent shifts between diverse working packs and project activities. This dynamic environment ensures a constant state of engagement, eliminating any possibility of monotony. The challenges encountered along the way serve as invaluable learning opportunities, surrounded by a diverse array of individuals possessing unique skills, knowledge, and experiences, providing endless possibilities for personal growth and enrichment.

How does working in the team of an international research project influence your work?
Working in the team of an international research project enriches my work through exposure to diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences. It fosters a dynamic environment where constant learning and growth occur. Collaborating with experts from various backgrounds enhances the methodological strength of the project and expands my understanding of global issues. The challenges encountered within the team become valuable teaching moments, fueling personal and professional development.

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself and your research interests?
I am a political scientist working with European Studies. My research interests include the EU borders, neighbourhood policy and EU enlargement. In this sense, researching democracy promotion practices in the EU neighbourhood aligns with my academic interests. From a broader perspective, I am also interested in studying European identity.

What is your role in the SHAPEDEM-EU team within your organisation? What are you currently working on within the scope of SHAPEDEM-EU?
I am currently working on WP5 country report featuring with cases studies of eight countries and their democracy promotion practices. This involved the communication with all authors, delivering feedback and editing. I am also involved in analysing Polish case of democracy promotion, coding and analysing documents and preparing In-Depth-Interviews with relevant actors involved in democracy promotion in Poland.

What does it mean for you to be part of SHAPEDEM-EU?
I am very enthusiastic about being part of the SHAPEDEM-EU project. I like most the spirit of intercultural diversity of research expertise, experience and perspectives of researchers in partner organisations. The project’s research perspective on practices of democracy promotion is very much in line with my academic approach.

How does working in the team of an international research project influence your work?
I very much appreciate working on an international research team. It enriches my academic work experience in many ways. It gives me a chance to contribute to state-of-the-art research and work with respected specialists in the field. Last but not least, I can be involved in international collaborative publications.

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself and your research interests?
I am a research assistant at the Institute of European Studies of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. I hold a Master's degree in European Studies from the Jagiellonian University (2022) and in European and Global Studies from the University of Padua (2022). My research interests focus on the regions of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and the Balkans, their European integration, EU enlargement, EU foreign policy, democratisation in the EU neighbourhood, as well as cultural and linguistic diversity and the protection of national minorities.

What is your role in the SHAPEDEM-EU team within your organisation? What are you currently working on within the scope of SHAPEDEM-EU?
I am currently working on Work Package 5, mapping the democracy support practices of EU Member States in the European Neighbourhood. One of the main tasks for us is to analyse how democracy support practices are contested by various actors in EU Member States. I am specifically working on the Polish case of democracy support practices by gathering relevant documents, coding and analysing them.

What does it mean for you to be part of SHAPEDEM-EU?
I am delighted about the opportunity to be part of SHAPEDEM-EU and contribute to its research. Being a part of the consortium is a perfect opportunity to gain experience in the area of my research interests and develop professionally. It also is very beneficial for gaining knowledge about the EU and its Member States’ efforts in the democratisation of the European Neighbourhood and analysing them in-depth.

How does working in the team of an international research project influence your work?
Working in SHAPEDEM-EU encourages me to strive to contribute positively to the objectives of the consortium’s research and enhance the quality of my work. It also helps expand my understanding of the researched processes and other important European and global issues.

Could you share a brief introduction about yourself and your research interests? I am a research assistant at Roskilde University. I hold a BA in political science from the American University in Beirut, a MSc in international humanitarian affairs from the University of York, and a MSc in international security and international law from the University of Southern Denmark. I previously worked with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs based out of Beirut, as well as at various research and policy think tanks in Denmark, Lebanon, Tunisia, and the Netherlands. My research revolves around global policy changes and their local realities, focusing on human rights and democracy, peacekeeping, humanitarian responses, and international law.

What is your role in the SHAPEDEM-EU team within your organisation? What are you currently working on within the scope of SHAPEDEM-EU? I'm currently deeply immersed in the realm of research, focusing on Work Packages 4 and 5. My primary focus lies in firstly understanding how Denmark as an EU member state, and other Danish actors including CSOs, unions, and think tanks engage in democracy support to the eastern and southern neighbourhoods. Meanwhile I explore which Danish actors, and to what and which extent, contests how Danish democracy support to the eastern and southern neighbourhoods is done. Delving into China's influence on the EU's democracy support initiatives has proven to be an incredibly engrossing area of study. Secondly, I explore how the taxonomy of multilevel contestation within the EU, in the case of Palestine. Collaborating closely with my colleagues at Roskilde University and our esteemed partners, I not only provide support but also glean invaluable insights from their expertise. It's through this collaborative spirit that we aim to decipher the complex interplay between democracy norms and practices within EU foreign policy discourse.

What does it mean for you to be part of SHAPEDEM-EU? SHAPEDEM-EU presents a significant avenue for deepening insights into the complexities of democracy, democracy promotion, neighborhood programmes, and its associated challenges and unharvested opportunities. My involvement in SHAPEDEM EU is shaped by the extraordinary opportunity the project provides for examining not only public policy and its changes but engaging with the fundamental questions of why ‘we do what we do’, and if along the way the initial objectives and values of policies are protected or lost in implementation. The collective research experience, which is SHAPEDEM EU, promises to be immensely enriching for oneself, but even further for the research findings presented. Moreover, I am profoundly appreciative of the chance to connect with and learn from a multitude of inspiring individuals within the research, policy, and not least activism spheres.

How does working in the team of an international research project influence your work? Engaging in an international research project team offers a profound journey of intellectual enrichment. Through exposure to diverse perspectives, skills, and experiences, a vibrant tapestry emerges, nurturing an environment of perpetual learning and evolution. SHAPEDEM EU researchers offer a collective sounding bord enriched by global knowledge and local understandings, and limitless research expertise. Collaboration with experts spanning various disciplines not only bolsters the methodological robustness of our endeavors but also widens the aperture through which global issues are perceived. I have felt that my participation in SHAPEDEM-EU alongside a cohort of brilliant minds, has served as a catalyst for the honing of critical thinking faculties. The relentless quest for the highest standards in research, grounded in factual accuracy, propels our collective endeavor towards distinction.