Exploring Migration, Memory, and Social Justice: Visiting Scholar Maeli Goncalves Farias
This semester, the department welcomed Maeli Goncalves Farias, a doctor of philosophy candidate in sociology at the University of Bristol and research fellow on the AHRC-funded project Slavery and Its Legacies: Contestations, Memory and Change.
Maeli's research explores how histories of colonialism and slavery influence current inequalities through everyday social relations. Using anthropological approaches, postcolonial theory and critical race perspectives, she explores the ways race, class and gender are negotiated and reproduced in daily life, particularly among marginalized communities.
Her doctoral research centers on migration governance in Brazil, with a focus on Venezuelan and Haitian migrants. More broadly, her work explores how current migration policies are shaped by the historical legacies of slavery and colonialism. Through engaging projects on modern slavery, migration and public memory, she has delved into the complex tensions between stories of abolition and the ongoing realities of exploitation and exclusion.
During her research exchange with the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies, Maeli met with faculty, students and local migrant communities, including participation in a workshop with Sudanese women seeking asylum in Egypt. Reflecting on the experience, she noted that the realities facing asylum seekers in Egypt raised new questions about migration governance, regional solidarity and the evolving relationship between Egypt and Sudan.
A strong advocate for South–South dialogue, Maeli believes migration research has often been dominated by frameworks developed in the Global North. She argues that greater knowledge exchange among countries in the Global South can illuminate the distinct historical and social contexts that shape migration experiences.
Reflecting on her time at The American University in Cairo, Maeli described the visit as an enriching experience. She particularly valued the openness of discussions, the opportunity to receive feedback on her work and the chance to engage directly with migrant communities. "The knowledge sharing has been the most important part of the program," she said, emphasizing the value of meaningful academic and community exchange.