Giulia Sinatti

I am a scholar with a multidisciplinary background in sociology, human geography and anthropology. I believe in the power of ethnography to understand complex situations. I specialise in international migration, and applied research to support innovation in different professional fields from international development and humanitarianism, to healthcare.

I have spent 20+ years researching how migrants live their lives across multiple worlds, promoting change and development in their home and host countries. My work has focused, among others, on humanitarian responses to migration; migration governance; migration and development policymaking and practice; return migration; migrant transnationalism between Africa and Europe.

Alongside migration-related work, I also engage in research collaboration with external partners in healthcare. In the medical world, research often emphasises aspects that can be quantified and measured. I rely on ethnography to document otherwise difficult to capture dimensions of healthcare that are however equally important in shaping the quality of care.

I welcome students interested in collaborative research with external organizations/companies in healthcare, as well as students with an interest for migrant reception, border controls, return migration, and humanitarianism.

I joined the Social and Cultural Anthropology Department at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in 2014, after having held positions at other universities in Italy, Senegal, the UK and the Netherlands. Before making research my passion, I was an international development and humanitarian practitioner in Africa and Asia.

I am board member of the Dutch Anthropologists' Association (ABv).

Research interests:

• Ethnography, Borders, Security, Development, Transnationalism

Education

• PhD Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca (2002 — 2006)
• laurea (MA degree) Università di Trento (1990 — 1998)
• Liceo Ginnasio A. Manzoni
• Liceo Ginnasio Tito Livio

Scientific publications

• ​Sinatti, G. (2022). “Return migration and entrepreneurship​.” King, R. & K. Kuschminder, Eds. Handbook of Return Migration. Cheltenam, Edward Elgar. In press.
• ​Sinclair, D. & G. Sinatti. (2021). "Re-thinking protection for LGBTI refugees in Kampala, Uganda: A relational, trust-based approach." Refugee Survey Quarterly. DOI: 10.1093/rsq/hdab010/6377251
• ​Anholt, R. & G. Sinatti. (2020). “Under the guise of resilience: The EU approach to migration and forced displacement in Jordan and Lebanon​.” Contemporary Security Policy 41(2): 311-355.
• ​​Sinatti, G. & R. Vos. (2019). “Representations of border deaths and the making and unmaking of borders.” Cuttitta, P. & T. Last, Eds. Border Deaths: Causes, Dynamics and Consequences of Migration-related Mortality. Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Press: 71-84.
• ​Sinatti, G. (2019). “Humanitarianism as politics: Civil support initiatives for migrants in Milan’s Hub.” Social Inclusion 7(2): 139-148.
• Sinatti, G. (2019). “Return migration, entrepreneurship and development: Contrasting the economic growth perspective of Senegal’s diaspora policy through a migrant-centred approach.” African Studies 78(4): 609-623.
• Gasper, D. & G. Sinatti. (2016). “Investigating migration within a human security framework.” Revista de Migración y Desarrollo / Migration and Development 14(27): 19-63.
• Sinatti, G. (2015). “Return migration as a win-win-win scenario? Visions of return among Senegalese migrants, the state of origin and receiving countries.” Ethnic and Racial Studies 38(2): 275-291.
• Sinatti, G. & C. Horst. (2015). “Migrants as agents of development: Diaspora engagement discourse and practice in Europe.” Ethnicities 15(1): 134-152.
• Sinatti, G. (2015). “‘Come back, invest, and advance the country.’ Policy myths and migrant realities of return and development in Senegal.” Åkesson, L. & M. Eriksson Baaz, Eds. The new developers? Experiences of African Return Migrants. London, Zed books: 87-108.
• Sinatti, G. (2014). “Masculinities and intersectionality in migration: Transnational Wolof migrants negotiating manhood and gendered family roles.” Truong, T.D., D. Gasper, et al., Eds. Migration, Gender and Social Justice: Perspectives on Human Security. Berlin – Heidelberg – New York, Springer: 215-226.
• Sinatti, G. (2014). “Approaches to diaspora engagement in the Netherlands.” Laakso, L. & P. Hautaniemi, Eds. Diasporas, Development and Peacemaking in the Horn of Africa. London, Zed books: 190-209.
• Sinatti, G. (2011). “‘Mobile transmigrants’ or ‘unsettled returnees’? Myth of return and permanent resettlement among Senegalese migrants.” Population Space and Place 17(2): 153-166.
• Sinatti, G. (2009). “Home is where the heart abides. Migration, return and housing in Dakar, Senegal.” Open House International 34(3): 49-56.
• Sinatti, G. (2008). “The Polish Peasant revisited. Thomas and Znaniecki’s classic in the light of contemporary transnational migration theory.” SocioLogica, 2(2).
• Sinatti, G. (2008). “Migraciones, transnacionalismo y el locus de investigación: Multi-localidad y la transición de ‘sitios’ a ‘campos’.” Solé, C., S. Parella et al., Eds. Nuevos Retos del Transnacionalismo en el Estudio de las Migraciones. Madrid, OPI: 93-112.
• Sinatti, G. (2008). “The making of urban translocalities: Senegalese migrants in Dakar and Zingonia.” Smith, M.P. & J. Eade, Eds. Transnational Ties: Cities, Migrations, and Identities. New Brunswick (NJ) and London, Transaction Publishers: 61-76.
• Sinatti, G. (2007). “Immigrazione senegalese in Italia: Stato dell’arte.” Afriche e Orienti, 2: 174-177.
• ​Sinatti, G. (2006). “Diasporic cosmopolitanism and conservative translocalism: Narratives of nation among Senegalese migrants in Italy.” Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism 6(3): 30-50.
• Sinatti, G. (2005). “Città senegalesi: Il caso di Zingonia.” Afriche e Orienti 7(3): 27-40.​
• ​Sinatti, G. (2000). “I Senegalesi a Milano.” Palidda, S., Ed. ​Socialità e Inserimento degli Immigrati a Milano. Milan, Franco Angeli: 78-89.
• Sinatti, G. and S. Palidda (2000). “A proposito dell’immigrazione giovanile a Milano.” Palidda, S., Ed. Socialità e Inserimento degli Immigrati a Milano. Milan, Franco Angeli: 107-117.

Professional publications

• Sinatti, G. (2018). “Bringing together social sciences and industries.” Antropologia2-0, blog post, 23 April.
• Sinatti, G. (2015). “Anthropologist? You’re hired!” Stanplaats Wereld, blog post, 3 December.
• Sinatti, G. (2012). “From global migration to local development? Reflections on diaspora engagement.” DevISSues, 14(1): 15-17.
• Sinatti, G. & S.P. Alvarez Tinajero. (2011). Migration and Development: a Bottom-Up Approach. A Handbook for Practitioners and Policymakers. Brussels, EC-UN Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI).
• Horst, C., G. Sinatti, et al. (2010). Participation of Diasporas in Peacebuilding and Development. A Handbook for Practitioners and Policymakers. Oslo, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO).
• Sinatti, G., Ed. (2010). “Diasporas as partners in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Recommendations for fruitful collaboration based on fieldwork studies in Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway.” DIASPEACE Policy Paper.
• Sinatti, G. (2010). “Key criteria of ‘good practice’ for constructive diaspora engagement in peacebuilding” DIASPEACE Discussion Paper.
• Sinatti, G. (2008). “Zingonia: Vecchi e nuovi abitanti, vecchie e nuove questioni.” Agenzia per l’Integrazione Migrazioni e territorio. Voci, riflessioni, proposte. Bergamo, Provincia di Bergamo.
• Sinatti, G. (2007). “Emigrazione clandestina: Dakar, nuovo porto di partenza.” Nigrizia, 1: 46-47.
• Sinatti, G. (2007). “Sull’altra riva: Immigrazione senegalese a Zingonia.” Nigrizia, 1: 47.