معرفی
Claudia Wilopo is a Lecturer and PhD candidate in the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Basel, Faculty of Humanities. Her research is situated within Cultural Studies and European Ethnology, with a focus on critical migration and border studies. She is affiliated with the Graduate School of Social Sciences (G3S) and conducts fieldwork-based research on the margins of citizenship and legality.
- MSc in Urban Studies, Free University of Brussels
- BSc in Geography and Political Science, Royal Holloway, University of London
Her research centers on the mechanisms of illegalization, racial profiling, and emergency aid within migration regimes. Drawing on ethnographic methods such as participant observation, interviews, and go-along walks, she investigates how rejected asylum seekers in Zurich enact citizenship outside legal status. Her work critically examines the spatiotemporal dimensions of exclusion and resistance in urban settings.
The recent publications of Ms. Wilopo reflect a strong thematic focus on racism, intersectionality, and citizenship practices. Her articles analyze silencing in public space, the intersectional nature of racial profiling, and the paradoxical effects of humanitarian aid in reinforcing inequality. These works collectively contribute to critical debates in migration, race, and urban sociology.
She has been recognized with competitive awards supporting her doctoral work:
- Doc.CH scholarship, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
- Grant from the Voluntary Academic Society (FAG), Basel
- G3S-start-up grant
Claudia Wilopo has contributed to public discourse through lectures and media appearances on racial profiling in Switzerland. She has participated in public forums such as the Kleinbasler Podiumsreihe and has been featured in outlets including SRF's Arena and Echo der Zeit, as well as Le Temps. She is also a co-author of the book Racial Profiling: Erfahrungen, Wirkungen, Widerstand.
Her research is conducted within the institutional framework of the University of Basel’s Department of Cultural Studies and European Ethnology. She is involved in teaching and academic advising, contributing to the broader research community through the G3S and collaborative projects on migration and social inclusion.
