A Little Bit About Myself and My Research
The spirit of my dissertation
I came to Germany in 2017. Before it, I had spent two years studying for my master’s degree in Sweden. When I was not in Europe, I was based in Taiwan, working for a professor who has been a well-known environmental activist. This is how I have built my interest in social movement and autonomous initiatives. And why did I choose the refugee social movement as the topic of my dissertation? I guess there are two reasons. First of all, refugees — or any other kind of migration — will always be part of many societies. Therefore, by doing this research, I might contribute to the debates and discussions practically and theoretically. Second of all, everyone can be rendered a refugee. As a Taiwanese, I always harbor the fear of becoming a refugee due to China’s ambition of expansion and invasion. So this dissertation is like my own perspective to reflect upon how people can get deeper supports or power if they are forced to leave their homes one day.
The topic of my dissertation is “How hegemony develops with refugee-friendly groups as potential organic intellectuals”. I am conducting my research through the lens of the Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci’s concepts of hegemony and organic intellectuals. Basically, organic intellectuals are the leaders and organizers of a social group. Nevertheless, even as…
