Comparative Perspectives on Refugee Integration in Greece & Australia

This panel unites Professor Sotirios S. Livas and Associate Professor Emmanuel (Manos) Karagiannis from Greece with Professor Paul Long from Monash University to examine refugee integration in Greece and Australia.

Under the theme “Navigating Displacement and Belonging: Comparative Perspectives on Refugee Integration in Greece and Australia”, the discussion explores the lived experiences of refugees alongside the legal, political, and cultural frameworks that shape adaptation and belonging. Drawing on expertise in international cooperation law, migration and geopolitics, and cultural narratives, the panel offers a comparative analysis of Greece’s frontline role in the European migration landscape and Australia’s managed migration model. It highlights similarities and differences in integration strategies, the role of civil society, and the impacts on national identity, aiming to inform more inclusive approaches to displacement in an era of global mobility.

PROFESSOR DR. SOTIRIOS S. LIVAS

Panellist

Professor Dr. Sotirios S. Livas is Associate Professor of International Law, International Relations, and Turkish–Middle Eastern Relations at the Ionian University, Greece. He served as Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, Translation and Interpreting (2018–2022), Director of the Postgraduate Programme Language and Intercultural Communication (2018–2022), and Internship Coordinator (2010–2022). He currently directs the Laboratory for Language and Politics.

Holding a BA in Law (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), an MA in International Development Law and Development Studies (Panteion University), and a PhD in Law and International Relations (Ionian University), Dr. Livas has taught at Ionian University since 2001 and authored five books, in addition to translating and editing several more. His research focuses on Middle Eastern geopolitics, Islam and democracy, Islamic extremism, immigration, and Turkey’s regional role, and he frequently contributes to international academic journals.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR EMMANUEL (MANOS) KARAGIANNIS

Panellist

Associate Professor Emmanuel (Manos) Karagiannis teaches at the Defence Studies Department, King’s College London. He holds two PhDs—one in Theology and Religious Studies (Islamic Studies) from King’s College London, and another in Post-Soviet Politics from the University of Hull—along with an MA in International Security Studies and a BA in European Studies.

His research focuses on political Islam, radicalisation, terrorism, non-state actors in the MENA region, and Black Sea security, combining political science with insights from other disciplines. Dr. Karagiannis has held research positions at institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, West Point, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, and the London School of Economics, and conducted fieldwork across the Middle East and former Soviet Union. He is a frequent media commentator and has worked as a consultant for the OSCE and as an EU election observer.

POFESSOR PAUL LONG

Panellist

Professor Paul Long is Professor in Creative and Cultural Industries and Director of the Master of Cultural and Creative Industries program in the School of Media, Film and Journalism at Monash University. An interdisciplinary researcher, teacher, and leader with a strong commitment to cultural justice and inclusion, he previously co-founded the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research at Birmingham City University.

His research examines cultural justice, creative heritage, and the role of migrants and refugees in the cultural economy, with publications in leading media and cultural studies journals. Professor Long leads the ARC-funded project Mapping Australian Homemade, Amateur and Do-it-Yourself Cultural Economies, and serves as co-founder and co-editor of the Journal of Beatles Studies.

DR. ELEANOR GORDON

Facilitator

Eleanor is a senior lecturer (Politics and International Relations) and Director of the Monash Global Peace and Security centre (Monash GPS), School of Social Sciences. Her research and practice focus on building security and justice after conflict and inclusive approaches to peacebuilding and peacekeeping.

Navigating Displacement and Belonging: Comparative Perspectives on Refugee Integration in Greece and Australia

This event will bring together distinguished scholars:

• Professor Sotirios S. Livas 
• Associate Professor Emmanuel (Manos) Karagiannis from Greece, and
• Professor Paul Long from Monash University.

The panel will explore the lived experiences of refugees, alongside the legal, political, and cultural frameworks shaping adaptation and belonging. Drawing on expertise in international cooperation law, migration and geopolitics, and cultural narratives, the discussion will provide a comparative analysis of Greece’s frontline role in the European migration landscape and Australia’s managed migration model.

Through this exchange, we aim to highlight similarities and differences in integration strategies, the role of civil society, and the impacts on national identity, with a view to informing more inclusive approaches to displacement in an era of global mobility.

Important Note: Please register via this link: https://forms.gle/Ngvn4pFsvuRDHmyx7

 

 Event Details

Date: Monday, 1 September 2025

Venue: Monash University, Caulfield Campus – Building H, Room HB36

Address: 900 Dandenong Rd, Caulfield East, VIC 3145

Time: 5:45 pm (Refreshments & Networking) | 6:30 pm (Panel Commencement)

Zoom Link: Join via Zoom

Registration: Click here to register

 Program Run Sheet

5:45 pm – Guest arrival

5:45 – 6:30 pm – Refreshments and networking

6:30 – 7:30 pm – Panel session

7:30 – 7:50 pm – Q&A session

7:50 – 7:55 pm – Gift & photos

7:55 – 8:00 pm – Conclusion