Research/Dissertation
Maureen’s research interest lies at the intersection of forced migration, urbanization and poverty. She focuses on investigating the socio-spatial impact of displacement and urban violence on cities in the Global South. Forced migration often produces entire new geographies of survival. In recent years, the majority of displaced persons have been opting out of camps and self-settling in cities where economic opportunities are the lifeline to their livelihood. Maureen is looking at the informal and socio-spatial responses of forced migrants in cities who are often portrayed as passive recipients of humanitarian aid, when they are – in fact – active political agents that are reshaping the cities that host them. This research is based across various neighborhoods in Beirut. By investigating the wide range of socio-spatial strategies that have emerged to address forced migration into cities, Maureen hopes to broaden the conceptual space at the intersection of urban studies and migration studies.