German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

DEEN

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

Associate

Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

  • Short CV

    • Since 01/2022: Senior Researcher at the Department for Migration and Globalisation at Danube University Krems and Associate at GIGA Institute of Middle East Studies

    • 09/2019 - 12/2021: Research Fellow at GIGA Institute of Middle East Studies

    • 2017 - 2019: Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Sociology, University of Amsterdam

    • 2016 - 2017: OxPo Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford

    • 2011 - 2017: Lecturer (2015-2017) and PhD Researcher (2011-2016) at the Department of Oriental Studies, University of Vienna

    • 2012 - 2016: PhD Researcher at the Centre de Recherches Internationales (CERI), Sciences Po Paris

    • Education: 2011-2016: Joint PhD in Political Science and Arabic Studies (Sciences Po Paris & University of Vienna) Dissertation “Transnational Politics Beyond the Arab Uprisings. Egyptian Activism in Vienna and Paris” (2016 Award of Excellence, Austrian Ministry of Science, Research & Economy); 2009-2010: M.A. in Comparative Politics (specialisation Middle East and Muslim World) at Sciences Po Paris; 2005-2010: Magister in Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Vienna; 2007-2008: Erasmus exchange at the Institut National des Langues et Cultures Orientales (INALCO), Paris; 2006-2009: B.A. in Political Science, University of Vienna

    Current Research

    • (Im)mobility in the context of conflict and war

    • Drivers of (forced) migration

    • Migration governance

    • Diaspora politics and transnational political participation

    Countries and Regions

    • North Africa

    • Middle East

    • Europe

    Research Programmes

    Awards

    • Award for GIGA researchers: Dr. Christiane Fröhlich and Dr. Lea Müller-Funk win Routledge Area Studies Interdisciplinarity Award, Routledge Publishing Ltd., Taylor and Francis Publishing Group, 2023
    • IMISCOE Rinus Penninx Best Paper Award 2019, International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion (IMISCOE), 2020
    • Migration Politics Fellowship 2021, International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion (IMISCOE), 2020
    • Award of Excellence, Austrian Ministry of Science, Research & Economy (BMWFW), 2016

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Associate

    [email protected]

    Publications

    Chapter in Edited Volume | 2025

    Maghreb States in the International Refugee Regime: Between Strategic Alignment, Alternative Pathways and Confrontations

    This chapter deconstructs the perception of Arab states as passive recipients of external refugee norms and funding instruments. It analyses how Maghreb states strategically use, integrate and renegotiate the international refugee regime to advance their domestic and geopolitical priorities at the intersection of Europe and Africa.

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Associate

    International Migration Review | 09/2024

    Disentangling Forced Migration Governance: Actors and Drivers along the Displacement Continuum

    In this paper, we study the question of who and what drives forced migration governance in origin, host, and transit states, drawing on empirical material from the contemporary Syrian and Libyan, and the historical Algerian displacement situations.

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

    Dr. André Bank

    Migration Politics | 03/2023

    Mobility Control as State-Making in Civil War: Forcing Exit, Selective Return and Strategic Laissez-Faire

    This paper by Dr. Christiane Fröhlich and Dr. Lea Müller-Funk addresses the question of how different actors govern mobility during civil war, and how mobility control and processes of state-making interact in such settings.

    Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

    Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Associate

    Infographic | 2023

    (Im)Mobility Trajectories in Conflict Settings

    This infographic illustrates the (im)mobility trajectories in conflict settings, specifically focusing on Syria. It highlights various regions and the displacement patterns within these conflict zones. Key areas depicted include Idlib, Aleppo, Damascus, and surrounding regions.

    Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

    Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Associate

    Infographic | 2023

    Forced Migration Governance from a Comparative Perspective

    This infographic titled "Forced Migration Governance from a Comparative Perspective" compares the governance approaches to three different cases of forced displacement: Algerian Displacement (1956-1962), Syrian Displacement (2011–Present) and Libyan Displacement (2011–Present).

    Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

    Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Associate

    Research Projects

    Research Project | 01/09/2020 - 31/08/2022

    Teaching Immigration in European Schools

    Migration has always been an intrinsic part of human societies across the globe. People have been mobile to lead a nomadic life, to explore the planet, to flee persecution and violence, to find work, or to pursue education. Yet, migration is often dealt with as a side-topic in school curricula. This stands in stark contrast to its omnipresence in public debates. This project brings academic knowledge of migration to European classrooms to convey a more comprehensive understanding of migration and hereby foster students’ critical thinking.
    National Geographic, 2020-2022

    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

    Media Contributions

    Open Democracy | Article | 08/07/2020

    ‘You feel like in prison here’: imagining a future in Lebanon through Syrian eyes

    Open Democracy | Expert Comment / Guest Contribution | 06/07/2020

    The refugees who dare to aspire

    Expert Comment / Guest Contribution | 01/09/2017

    Kein Ende in Sicht: Libanesische Flüchtlingspolitik im sechsten Jahr des syrischen Bürgerkriegs

    Lectures

    Conference | 02/03/2025 - 05/03/2025

    Negotiating Assistance in Civil War: International Humanitarian Aid for Displaced Populations in De Facto States in Syria and Libya

    ISA Annual Convention 2025, Chicago Organisers: International Studies Association Dr. Christiane Fröhlich (Speaker), Dr. Lea Müller-Funk (Speaker)

    Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

    Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Associate

    Other | 15/07/2021

    Migration policies in Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Niger

    Migration Policies in Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Niger, Online Event Dr. Lea Müller-Funk (Speaker), Ass. Prof. Dr. Kathatrina Natter (Speaker)

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Associate

    Ass. Prof. Dr. Kathatrina Natter

    International Migration Institute

    Conference | 07/07/2021 - 09/07/2021

    18th IMISCOE Annual Conference

    18th IMISCOE Annual Conference, Online Event Organisers: International Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion, Erasmus University Rotterdam Dr. Lea Müller-Funk (Moderator), Dr. Christiane Fröhlich (Organiser)

    Co-organisation of panel "Governing Migration" Session #227 workshop | SC Migration Politics and Governance

    Dr. Lea Müller-Funk

    Associate

    Dr. Christiane Fröhlich

    Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

    Teaching

    Teaching | University of Amsterdam | 2019

    Dynamics of International Migration and Migrant Integration

    University of Amsterdam Amsterdam Netherlands

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