Samuel Giraut

Samuel Giraut is a PhD candidate and Assistant in Urban Studies at the University of Basel, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Social Sciences. He is based in the research group of Prof. Dr. Kenny Cupers and is actively contributing to critical urban research in the Global South. His academic journey includes a Master’s in Geopolitics and Political Geography from the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and undergraduate studies in Geography and Urban Planning in Grenoble and Bordeaux.

• PhD in Urban Studies, University of Basel
• MA in Geopolitics and Political Geography, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (2021)
• BA in Geography and Urban Planning, Universities of Grenoble and Bordeaux

Samuel's research centers on the concept of public space in post-apartheid Cape Town, exploring how everyday practices and state policies interact to produce contested urban spaces. His work is grounded in Southern urbanism and post-colonial theory, critically engaging with issues of spatial justice, urban inequality, and the socio-political production of space. His prior research focused on private security in Johannesburg and social networks in Marseille, reflecting a consistent interest in urban marginalization and governance.

Although no publications are currently listed, Samuel’s research aligns with critical urbanism themes such as infrastructure, migration, and decolonial practices, as seen in the broader projects at the University of Basel. His work contributes to transformative knowledge production in urban studies, especially in contexts shaped by colonial legacies and ongoing socio-political fragmentation.

Samuel has received the Start-up Stipend from the Graduate School of Social Sciences at the University of Basel since October 2023, supporting his doctoral research. This award highlights the academic merit and potential of his project.

He has participated in the action-research project GRAPHITE "Youth and the City" at LPED, University of Aix-Marseille, and worked with an associative shared space in Marseille focused on combating discrimination and inequality. These experiences underscore his commitment to community-engaged and socially relevant research.

Samuel is part of a vibrant research environment in Basel that includes projects such as Kamĩrĩĩthũ Afterlives, South Designs, and How Infrastructure Shaped Territory in Africa, all of which reflect interdisciplinary and decolonial approaches to urban and spatial questions.