Dr. Nicole Hirt

Short CV

Since 06/2022: Associate at the GIGA
02/2018 - 05/2022: Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute of African Affairs
1999 - 2017: Associate Fellow and Research Fellow at GIGA Institute of African Affairs, include the project: "The impact of structural militarisation on Eritrean society" (2008-2010)
Since 08/2010: Freelance Consultant (Horn of Africa, peace and conflict studies)
2007 - 2008: Freelance Consultant (Horn of Africa, peace and conflict studies)
2003 - 2006: Senior Research Fellow at Hamburg University, Department of Political Science
2001 - 2003: Assistant Professor at University of Asmara, Eritrea, Department of Political Science
1994 - 1996: Public Relations Officer, Sozialforum Tübingen e.V.
Studied Social Work at Berufsakademie Heidenheim; Political Science and Sociology at Tübingen University; PhD at the University of Hamburg, 2000 Promotion

Current Research

Migration Policy of EU
Persistence of Authoritarian Regimes
Militarisation
Diasporas and sanctions
Peace and conflict studies

Countries and Regions

Eritrea
Ethiopia
Djibouti

Research Programmes

Accountability and Participation

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

[email protected]

Chapter in Edited Volume

Thirty Years of Autocratic Rule: Eritrea’s President Isaias Afewerki between innovation and destruction

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Globalizations | 01/2025

‘My Parents Told Me to Love My Country’: Positionalities of Second-Generation Diaspora Eritreans in a Transnational Setting

The article explores positionalities of second-generation diaspora Eritreans and their ambivalent attitudes towards their ancestral homeland and their residence country, considering the influence of their parents’ history on identity formation.

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Chapter in Edited Volume | 09/2022

Eritreer*innen in der Diaspora: der Einfluss des eritreischen Regimes und regimetreue Strukturen in Deutschland

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Eden Mengis

Büro für diskriminierungskritische Arbeit Stuttgart

Chapter in Edited Volume | 08/2022

The Limits of Diaspora: Double Vulnerabilities among Eritreans in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Prof. Abdulkader Saleh Mohammad

Chapter in Edited Volume | 11/2021

Djibouti

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Research Project | 17/08/2020 - 16/08/2023

Transnational Lives in the Shadow of Repression: Diaspora Youth and the Struggle for Democracy

This project investigates the role of the second generation diaspora in the
global struggle for democracy. It aims to understand how authoritarian regimes engage with or repress their young diasporas and the ways in which these youths either support or resist them. The project is as a qualitative comparative case study of Rwanda, Eritrea, Turkey and Egypt. The GIGA is responsible for the case study on Eritrea.
Swedish Research Council, 2020-2023

Research Project | 01/11/2018 - 30/04/2023

Migration Governance and Asylum Crises, Work Package "Comparing Crises" (MAGYC)

This project explores how European migration policies are influenced by political crises triggered by (forced) migration. At a time when such policies are heavily contested across European member-states, and when asylum seems more threatened than ever, this project is critically important to improve our understanding of how migration policies are formulated and shaped by a context of crisis. The project gathers 13 partners from diverse European countries, as well as from Lebanon and Turkey, and GIGA leads the Work Package “Comparing Crises”.
EC, Horizon 2020, 2018-2023

Research Project | 01/02/2018 - 31/01/2021

Do Diasporas Contribute to the Persistence of Authoritarian Rule? Responses of Eritrean Citizens Abroad to Transnational Governance

Globalization has witnessed an increase in the transnationalization of politics - a severely understudied subject in political science. The project’s main research question is if diasporas can stabilize authoritarian regimes. It explores diaspora responses to efforts of home regimes to exploit and control its citizens abroad. It examines how the political systems of host states influence political affiliations regarding homeland politics by comparing the transnational relations of Eritrean diaspora communities residing in five different countries.
DFG, 2018-2021

RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) | Quote | 19/09/2023

Gewalt bei Eritrea-Veranstaltungen: Was steckt dahinter?

In den vergangenen Monaten ist es immer wieder rund um Eritrea-Veranstaltungen zu Gewaltausbrüchen und Krawallen gekommen. Zuletzt etwa im hessischen Gießen oder am vergangenen Wochenende in Stuttgart. Expert:innen erklären, was hinter den Ausschreitungen steckt.

RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RDN) | Interview | 19/09/2023

„Es ist befremdlich, dass Deutsche eritreischer Abstammung diese Diktatur feiern“

Ausschreitungen bei Eritrea-Veranstaltungen: Dr. Nicole Hirt äußert sich im Interview mit dem RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland zum Konflikt zwischen traditioneller Diaspora und jüngst Geflüchteten.

ARD Alpha | Interview | 21/04/2022

Bürgerkrieg in Äthiopien

Interview zum gegenwärtigen Stand des Bürgerkrieges in Äthiopien.

Conference | 24/08/2020 - 28/08/2020

Eritrea’s Chosen Trauma and the Legacy of the Martyrs: The Impact of Postmemory on Political Identity Formation of Second-Generation Diaspora Eritreans

ECPR General Conference 2020, Online event Organisers: European Consortium for Political Research Dr. Nicole Hirt (Speaker)

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Cooperation Event | 07/11/2019 - 08/11/2019

CrossArea Jahrestagung

CrossArea Jahrestagung, GIGA Hamburg, Hamburg Organisers: CrossArea - Verband für Transregionale Studien, Vergleichende Area Studies und Global Studies e.V. Dr. André Bank (Panelist), Dr. Nicole Hirt (Panelist), Prof. Abdulkader Saleh Mohammad (Panelist), Dr. Hakkı Taş (Panelist), Dr. Nikolai Huke (Panelist), Dr. Janina Pawelz (Panelist)

Dr. André Bank

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Prof. Abdulkader Saleh Mohammad

Dr. Hakkı Taş

Dr. Nikolai Huke

Dr. Janina Pawelz

Conference | 30/10/2019 - 31/10/2019

Stabilizing Autocracy through Migration: the Eritrean Remittance Paradox

3rd International Research and Policy Conference, Bonn Organisers: German Development Institute Dr. Nicole Hirt (Speaker)

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Short CV

Since 06/2022: Associate at the GIGA
02/2018 - 05/2022: Research Fellow at the GIGA Institute of African Affairs
1999 - 2017: Associate Fellow and Research Fellow at GIGA Institute of African Affairs, include the project: "The impact of structural militarisation on Eritrean society" (2008-2010)
Since 08/2010: Freelance Consultant (Horn of Africa, peace and conflict studies)
2007 - 2008: Freelance Consultant (Horn of Africa, peace and conflict studies)
2003 - 2006: Senior Research Fellow at Hamburg University, Department of Political Science
2001 - 2003: Assistant Professor at University of Asmara, Eritrea, Department of Political Science
1994 - 1996: Public Relations Officer, Sozialforum Tübingen e.V.
Studied Social Work at Berufsakademie Heidenheim; Political Science and Sociology at Tübingen University; PhD at the University of Hamburg, 2000 Promotion

Current Research

Migration Policy of EU
Persistence of Authoritarian Regimes
Militarisation
Diasporas and sanctions
Peace and conflict studies

Countries and Regions

Eritrea
Ethiopia
Djibouti

Research Programmes

Accountability and Participation

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

[email protected]

Chapter in Edited Volume

Thirty Years of Autocratic Rule: Eritrea’s President Isaias Afewerki between innovation and destruction

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Globalizations | 01/2025

‘My Parents Told Me to Love My Country’: Positionalities of Second-Generation Diaspora Eritreans in a Transnational Setting

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Chapter in Edited Volume | 09/2022

Eritreer*innen in der Diaspora: der Einfluss des eritreischen Regimes und regimetreue Strukturen in Deutschland

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Eden Mengis

Büro für diskriminierungskritische Arbeit Stuttgart

Chapter in Edited Volume | 08/2022

The Limits of Diaspora: Double Vulnerabilities among Eritreans in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Prof. Abdulkader Saleh Mohammad

Chapter in Edited Volume | 11/2021

Djibouti

Dr. Nicole Hirt

Associate

Research Project | 17/08/2020 - 16/08/2023

Transnational Lives in the Shadow of Repression: Diaspora Youth and the Struggle for Democracy

Research Project | 01/11/2018 - 30/04/2023

Migration Governance and Asylum Crises, Work Package "Comparing Crises" (MAGYC)

Research Project | 01/02/2018 - 31/01/2021

Do Diasporas Contribute to the Persistence of Authoritarian Rule? Responses of Eritrean Citizens Abroad to Transnational Governance

RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) | Quote | 19/09/2023

Gewalt bei Eritrea-Veranstaltungen: Was steckt dahinter?

RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RDN) | Interview | 19/09/2023

„Es ist befremdlich, dass Deutsche eritreischer Abstammung diese Diktatur feiern“

Ausschreitungen bei Eritrea-Veranstaltungen: Dr. Nicole Hirt äußert sich im Interview mit dem RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland zum Konflikt zwischen traditioneller Diaspora und jüngst Geflüchteten.

ARD Alpha | Interview | 21/04/2022