Prof. Fidan Elcioglu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology. Dr. Elcioglu’s current research examines the grassroots struggles between pro-immigrant and restrictionist activists at one of the most important points of unauthorized entry for migrants on the US-Mexico border. Her scholarship has been published in several academic journals including Social Problems, Ethnography, Working USA, and Qualitative Sociology. Dr. Elcioglu’s areas of expertise include political mobilization, migration, race, and qualitative research methods.
October 24 - ‘It’s Our Moral Imperative’: The Classed Meanings of Whiteness and the Politics of Immigration in Arizona - Even when U.S. immigration policy does not directly affect them, American citizens still flock to the U.S.-Mexico borderlands to take the law into their own hands. Some activists stealthily work with the U.S. Border Patrol to stop border crossers. Others leave out jugs of water to help migrants survive their journey across Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. What are the motivations of these different groups of Americans? What can their deep commitment tell us about the future of migration politics in the U.S. and elsewhere?
Great Explorations, is a series of academic discussions we hope will inspire our communities. Our special thanks to our engaged, critical thinkers who attend our speaker series. The dialogues that come out of these talks, both in-person and online via Zoom, are integral to our campus community and Scarborough communities at large. We welcome your input for future topics, as well as a review of previous recorded sessions available on YouTube.