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Dr Liza Schuster

Reader in Sociology

School of Arts and Social Sciences Department of Sociology

Contact details

Address

Dr Liza Schuster D613, Rhind Building
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

About

Overview

Dr Liza Schuster has spent most of the past decade conducting fieldwork in Afghanistan, where she was based at the Afghanistan Centre at Kabul University. Funded by the Leverhulme Trust (2012 - 2013), she has studied the consequences of deportation for Afghans, their families and communities. Her most recent work, funded by the ESRC (2016-2018), and in collaboration with Afghan colleagues at ACKU, included an examination of representations of migration in Afghan Oral Culture, a study of the Hopes, Plans and Fears of Afghan Families, and an exploration of the influence of the EU on the development of Afghan Migration Policy.
Dr Schuster prepares expert reports on Afghanistan for Immigration tribunals in the UK, and across Europe and contributes to debates on migration in a number of countries.
Dr Schuster originally came to City in September 2005 from the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society at Oxford University. Before that she was T. H. Marshall Fellow at the London School of Economics working on a comparative project that explored processes of inclusion and exclusion in four European states: Britain, France, Germany and Italy. Since then she has offered critiques of access to the EU, British, French and Greek asylum systems, and developed a focus on deportation, examining the European returns directive, and the impact of deportation on those returned to Afghanistan and Uganda.
She teaches at all levels on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including modules in general Sociology, Racism and Global Migration.

Qualifications

  1. PhD, University of Southampton, United Kingdom, 1994 – 1998

Languages

French (can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review), German (can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review), Italian (can understand spoken) and Persian (can speak).

Expertise

Geographic Areas

  • Asia - Central
  • Europe

Research

At City, Dr Schuster is continuing her work on on domestic and European asylum policy (in particular the new European Agenda on Migration, Dublin regulations and deportation) as well as the consequences of deportation, and migration from Afghanistan. Much of this research is comparative in nature, looking at Britain, France, Germany and Italy, and increasingly Afghanistan and Uganda.

Currently Dr Schuster is exploring the impact of deportation on those deported, their families and communities, and the states and societies that deport and receive them. She has just returned from three years, Afghanistan, (partly funded by a Leverhulme Fellowship), asking what factors cause some deportees to re-migrate and what factors enable others to re-integrate into their communities of origin, and exploring the impact of deportation on their families and communities.

She is also collaborating with the Refugee Legal Project (Kampala) on another deportation-related project.

Publications

Publications by category

Book

  1. Schuster, L. (2003). The use and abuse of political asylum in Britain and Germany. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7146-8320-1.

Chapters (15)

  1. Schuster, L., Hussaini, R., Hossaini, M., Rezaie, R. and Shinwari, M.R.K. (2021). ‘My Beloved Will Come Today or Tomorrow’: Time and the ‘Left Behind’. Stealing Time (pp. 1–23). Springer International Publishing.
  2. Schuster, L. and Majidi, N. (2018). Deportation and Forced Return. In Bloch, A. and Dona, G. (Eds.), Forced Migration: Current Issues and Debates (pp. 88–105). London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-65322-1.
  3. Schuster, L. (2016). Unmixing Migrants and Refugees. The Routledge Handbook of Immigration and Refugee Studies (pp. 297–303). Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-79431-3.
  4. Schuster, L. (2015). The sociologist as voyeur. Sociologists' Tales: Contemporary Narratives on Sociological Thought and Practice (pp. 17–22). ISBN 978-1-4473-1866-8.
  5. Schuster, L. (2014). The Limits of Research. In Anderson, B. (Ed.), Migration: The COMPAS Anthropology Oxford: COMPAS. ISBN 978-1-907271-03-8.
  6. Schuster, L. (2011). Engendering Insecurity: The EU Asylum Regime. In Lazaridis, G. (Ed.), Security, insecurity, and migration in Europe Ashgate Pub Co. ISBN 978-1-4094-0920-5.
  7. Schuster, L. (2010). Globalization, Migration and Citizenship. In Solomos, J. and Collins, P.H. (Eds.), The Sage Handbook of Race and Ethnic Studies (pp. 332–350). Sage Publications Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7619-4220-7.
  8. Welch, M. and Schuster, L. (2008). American and British Constructions of Asylum Seekers: Moral Panic, Detention and Human Rights. In Brotherton, D.C. and Kretsedemas, P. (Eds.), Keeping Out the Other New York, US: Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-14129-1.
  9. Schuster, L. and Welch, M. (2006). Detention of Asylum Seekers in the UK and US: Deciphering Noisy and Quiet Constructions. In Critcher, C. (Ed.), Critical readings: Moral Panics and the Media Open Univ Pr. ISBN 978-0-335-21807-3.
  10. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2004). New Directions, or ‘The Same Old Story’? New Labour’s Policies on Race Relations, Immigration and Asylum. In Steinberg, D.L. and Johnson, R. (Eds.), Blairism and the war of persuasion Lawrence And Wishart Ltd. ISBN 978-0-85315-992-6.
  11. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2002). Racism, Politics and Mobilization. In Goldberg, D.T. and Solomos, J. (Eds.), A companion to racial and ethnic studies (pp. 303–318). Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0-631-20616-3.
  12. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2002). Hate Speech, Violence and Contemporary Racisms. In Foundation, E. (Ed.), Europe's new racism? Causes, Manifestations and Solutions (pp. 43–55). Berghahn. ISBN 978-1-57181-333-6.
  13. Schuster, L. (2001). Political Asylum in Britain and German. In Ghatak, S. and Showstack - Sassoon, A. (Eds.), Migration and mobility (pp. 109–123). Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-333-92036-7.
  14. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2000). Citizenship, Multiculturalism and the Politics of Identity: Contemporary Dilemmas and Policy Agendas. In Koopmans, R. and Statham, P. (Eds.), Challenging immigration and ethnic relations politics (pp. 74–94). Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 978-0-19-829560-0.
  15. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (1999). The Politics of Refugee and Asylum Policies in Britain: Historical Patterns and Contemporary Realities. In Bloch, A. and Levy, C. (Eds.), Refugees, citizenship and social policy in Europe (pp. 51–79). Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-21724-2.

Journal articles (43)

  1. Schuster, L. and Shinwari, R.M.K. (2020). Migration reflected through Afghan Women’s Poetry. Soundings: A Journal of Politics and Culture, 75(Summer).
  2. Jafari, B.A. and Schuster, L. (2019). Representations of exile in Afghan oral poetry and songs. Crossings: Journal of Migration & Culture, 10(2), pp. 183–203. doi:10.1386/cjmc_00002_1.
  3. Schuster, L. (2018). Fatal flaws in the UK asylum decision-making system: an analysis of Home Office refusal letters. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies pp. 1–17. doi:10.1080/1369183x.2018.1552827.
  4. Schuster, L. (2018). The Common European Asylum System: Inconsistent, incoherent and lacking credibility. This Century's Review Journal for Rational Legal Debate, (1), pp. 40–44.

    [publisher’s website]

  5. Schuster, L. and Majidi, N. (2015). Deportation Stigma and Re-migration. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41(4), pp. 635–652. doi:10.1080/1369183x.2014.957174.
  6. Schuster, L. and Majidi, N. (2013). What happens post-deportation? The experience of deported Afghans. Migration Studies, 1(2), pp. 221–240. doi:10.1093/migration/mns011.
  7. Karamanidou, L. and Schuster, L. (2012). Realizing One's Rights under the 1951 Convention 60 Years On: A Review of Practical Constraints on Accessing Protection in Europe. JOURNAL OF REFUGEE STUDIES, 25(2), pp. 169–192. doi:10.1093/jrs/fer053.
  8. Schuster, L. (2011). Turning refugees into 'illegal migrants': Afghan asylum seekers in Europe. ETHNIC AND RACIAL STUDIES, 34(8), pp. 1392–1407. doi:10.1080/01419870.2010.535550.
  9. Schuster, L. (2011). Dublin II and Eurodac: examining the (un)intended(?) consequences. GENDER PLACE AND CULTURE, 18(3), pp. 401–416. doi:10.1080/0966369X.2011.566387.
  10. Schuster, L. (2010). Kindness to Strangers. History Workshop Journal.
  11. Schuster, L. (2009). Dublino II ed Eurodac: esame delle conseguenze (in)attese. Mondi Migranti, 1(3).
  12. Schuster, L. (2006). New paradigm of Asylum. Studi Emigrazione, 43(162), pp. 267–285.
  13. Schuster, L. (2006). Nuovi paradigmi di asilo: cosa sta accadendo sul campo? Studi Emigrazioni, 162, pp. 256–267.
  14. Schuster, L. (2006). Les Réalités d’un Nouveau Paradigme d’Asile. Revue Marocain.
  15. Schuster, L. (2005). A sledgehammer to crack a nut: Deportation, detention and dispersal in Europe. SOCIAL POLICY & ADMINISTRATION, 39(6), pp. 606–621. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9515.2005.00459.x.
  16. Welch, M. and Schuster, L. (2005). Detention of asylum seekers in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Criminal Justice, 5(4), pp. 331–355. doi:10.1177/1466802505057715.
  17. Welch, M. and Schuster, L. (2005). Detention of asylum seekers in the UK and USA - Deciphering noisy and quiet constructions. PUNISHMENT & SOCIETY-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PENOLOGY, 7(4), pp. 397–417. doi:10.1177/1462474505057117.
  18. Schuster, L. (2005). The continuing mobility of migrants in Italy: Shifting between places and statuses. JOURNAL OF ETHNIC AND MIGRATION STUDIES, 31(4), pp. 757–774. doi:10.1080/13691830500109993.
  19. Bloch, A. and Schuster, L. (2005). At the extremes of exclusion: Deportation, detention and dispersal. ETHNIC AND RACIAL STUDIES, 28(3), pp. 491–512. doi:10.1080/0141987042000337858.
  20. Schuster, L. (2005). The Continuing Mobility of Migrants in Italy: Shifting between Statuses and Places. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 31(4), pp. 757–774.
  21. Schuster, L. and Bloch, A. (2005). Asylum Policy under New Labour. Benefits, 43(13 (2)), pp. 115–118.
  22. Schuster, L. and Welch, M. (2005). Detention of Asylum Seekers in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy: A Critical View of the Globalizing Culture of Control. riminal Justice: The International Journal of Policy and Practice, 5(4), pp. 331–355.
  23. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2004). Race, Immigration and Asylum. Ethnicities, 4(2), pp. 267–300. doi:10.1177/1468796804042606.
  24. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2004). Race, Immigration and Asylum: New Labour’s Agenda and its Consequences. Ethnicities, 4(2), pp. 267–300.
  25. Schuster, L. (2003). Common Sense or Racism: The Treatment of Asylum Seekers in Europe. ntroduction to Special Issue of Patterns of Prejudice ‘Racism, Xenophobia, Prejudice and Asylum’, 37(3), pp. 233–255.
  26. Schuster, L. (2003). Racism, Xenophobia, Prejudice and Asylum. Special Issue of Patterns of Prejudice, 37(3).
  27. Schuster, L. (2003). Common sense or racism? The treatment of asylum-seekers in Europe. Patterns of Prejudice, 37(3), pp. 233–256. doi:10.1080/00313220307591.
  28. Schuster, L. (2003). Asylum Seekers: Sangatte and the Tunnel. Parliamentary Affairs Special Issue on Crisis Management, 56(3), pp. 506–522.
  29. Schuster, L. (2002). Asylum and the Lessons of History. Race & Class, 44(2), pp. 40–56. doi:10.1177/0306396802044002974.
  30. Schuster, L. (2002). Sangatte: A False Crisis. Global Dialogue, 4(4), pp. 57–68.
  31. Schuster, L. (2002). Asylum and the Lessons of History: An Historical Perspective. Race & Class, 44(2), pp. 40–56.
  32. Schuster, L. and Bloch, A. (2002). Political Asylum and the Welfare State. Special Issue of Critical Social Policy, 22(3).
  33. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2002). Rights and Wrongs across European Borders: Migrants, Minorities and Citizenship. Citizenship Studies, 6(1), pp. 37–54.
  34. Schuster, L. and Bloch, A. (2002). Asylum and Welfare: Contemporary Debates. Critical Social Policy Special Issue, 22(3), pp. 393–414.
  35. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2001). Introduction: Citizenship, Multiculturalism, Identity. Patterns of Prejudice, 35(1), pp. 3–12.
  36. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2001). Migration, Citizenship and Globalisation: A Comparison of Trends in European Societies. Social Science Research Paper, 12.
  37. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2001). New Perspectives on Multiculturalism and Citizenship. Special Issue of Patterns of Prejudice, 35(1).
  38. Schuster, L. and Solomos, J. (2001). Asylum, Refuge and Public Policy: Current Trends and Future Dilemmas in the UK. Sociological Review Online, 6(1).
  39. Schuster, L. (2000). A Comparative Analysis of the Asylum Policy of Seven European Governments. Journal of Refugee Studies, 13(1), pp. 118–132. doi:10.1093/jrs/13.1.118.
  40. Schuster, L. (2000). A Comparison of Asylum Policy in Seven European States. Journal of Refugee Studies Special Issue, 13(1), pp. 118–132.
  41. Schuster, L., Bloch, A. and Galvin, T. (2000). Introduction. Journal of Refugee Studies Special Issue, 13(1), pp. 1–11.
  42. Schuster, L. and Bloch, A. (2000). The Politics of Asylum in Europe. Special Issue of Journal of Refugees Studies, 13(1).
  43. Schuster, L. (1998). Why Do States Grant Asylum? Politics, Journal of the Political Studies Association, 18(1), pp. 11–16.

Report

  1. Schuster, L. 2017 Risks on Return of Hazara Asylum Seekers. Anonymized report prepared for Immigration Tribunal..

Other (2)

  1. Schuster, L. (2005). The Realities of a New Asylum Paradigm.
  2. Schuster, L. (2004). The Exclusion of Asylum Seekers in Europe.

Professional activities

Editorial activity (2)

  1. Editorial board of Ethnic and Racial Studies.
  2. Editorial Board Patterns of Prejudice.

Media appearance

  1. Channel 4 News. Interviewed by John Snow about deportations to Afghanistan

Online articles (6)

  1. President slams fleeing Afghans, but offers little incentive to stay. (2016). The Conversation
  2. Reduced sentences for murderers reveal the rotten heart of Afghan justice. (2015). The Conversation
  3. Ashraf Ghani is running out of fans - and this latest Taliban attack won't help. (2015). The Conversation
  4. A friend injured in Kabul and a sad message about testing limits in Afghanistan today. (2014). The Conversation
  5. Brutal, expensive, futile - the truth about deporting asylum seekers. (2013). The Conversation
  6. Kabul is no safe haven for deported refugees. (2014). The Conversation