In the wake of the Arab Spring in the early 2010s,
more than 45,000 people risked their lives to cross
the Mediterranean in search of refuge in Europe. This
talk examines the reactions of citizens in Siracusa,
Sicily, to the influx, comparing these views to the
opinions expressed by residents of Southwest Virginia
in discussions of local refugee resettlement projects.
The presentation emphasizes the role and impact
of community support groups. It concludes with a
discussion of how Virginia Tech’s new Center for
Refugee, Migrant and Displacement Studies supports
efforts both in Siracusa and in Southwest Virginia.
Rebecca Hester is an associate professor in the
Department of Science, Technology and Society
at Virginia Tech and co-founder of the Center for
Refugee, Migrant and Displacement Studies.
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