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HEIndividual fellowship2022–2025

MEMODIAS · Memory Practices of the Afghan and Somali Diasporas in the USA and Italy.

Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2022-11-01 → 2025-10-31
EU contribution
€288,859
Participants
2
Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Memory Practices of the Afghan and Somali Diasporas in the USA and Italy.

MEMODIAS investigates how memories of conflict, displacement, settlement and possible return shape the lives of people in exile, helping them engage with host societies while maintaining ties with their homelands. Focusing on Afghan and Somali diasporas in two national contexts – Italy and the United States – the project examines how memories travel across borders, intersect with identities, and are reshaped through everyday interactions and intercultural encounters. The objectives are to analyse memories of conflict, flight, prospects of return, settlement and mobility; to trace how these memories circulate within and between diasporas and are exchanged in shared urban spaces; to assess how gender, generation, class, race and religion intersect in shaping these processes; and to develop an interdisciplinary framework clarifying how political, economic, social and memory related solidarities interact within emerging transnational settings. By addressing interactions between diasporas – rather than only single communities or generic global trends – the project generates knowledge that supports social inclusion, intercultural understanding and meaningful participation in civic life. The comparative design across Italy and the United States provides a clear basis for drawing conclusions on how different socio cultural and political environments shape memory practices, solidarity and civic engagement. Overall, the findings indicate that carefully facilitated interdiasporic encounters and exchanges, supported by safe spaces and participatory cultural initiatives, can strengthen mutual trust and democratic participation while reducing barriers that often keep communities apart.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Memory is a crucial resource for people in exile who have to deal with new and often hostile environments, since it keeps their transnational ties alive and shapes their collective identifications. Memory, however, is today increasingly subject to challenges, rearticulations and negotiations, especially when it refers to individual and collective practices, more and more confronted with global dynamics. MEMODIAS aims to explore these dynamics through an ethnographic inquire on the memory of conflict, exile and return among Afghan and Somali diasporas in Italy and the USA. Reflecting my previous mixed experience as researcher and practitioner in the field of migrant memories, my project enhances the implementation of participatory research methods and practices which can facilitate a circularity between the researcher and diaspora members as “co-researchers”. While exploring the interdiasporic forms of mnemonic solidarity in the transnational space between US and Italy, the project’s scientific and societal impacts will be strictly entangled and interdependent. MEMODIAS overall theoretical framework draws from Memory and Migration/Diaspora studies, Media, Art and Performance studies, Cultural studies, and Critical Global studies, subjects of my training activities which will include Gender studies. Research methods will be particularly focused on self-narrative practices. This approach will enhance the capability of participants to become active in policy making processes and to envisage new future possibilities of cohabitation. MEMODIAS dissemination and communication target scholars (through scientific publications), diasporas members, policy makers, journalists, educators and a broader public (through social media, civic events and an educational toolkit). Inspired by two brilliant supervisors while working in stimulating research environments in Italy and the US, I will have the chance to broaden my network and build future collaborations.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO · MilanoCoordinatorItaly
  • THE NEW SCHOOL · NEW YORKUnited States

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union