Dr Katja Sarmiento-Mirwaldt
Vice Dean Research (CALSS) / Reader
Marie Jahoda 220
- Email: katja.sarmiento-mirwaldt@brunel.ac.uk
- Tel: +44 (0)1895 267717
- Politics
- Politics and History
- Social and Political Sciences
- College of Arts, Law and Social Sciences
Research area(s)
- Comparative European politics (especially Polish, German and French politics)
- Borders, border regions and the territorial politics of Europe
- Cross-border cooperation and governance
- Regional variation in Euroscepticism and political narratives about Europe
Research Interests
My research lies at the intersection of political geography and political science. I am particularly interested in the spatial and regional dimensions of contemporary European politics, especially in border regions, cross-border relations, cross-border cooperation, and regional development. Much of my recent work examines how borders shape political attitudes, governance and everyday interaction, and how European integration is experienced in places located at or near national frontiers.
I also work on political narratives about Europe, including Euroscepticism, and on the ways in which political actors and citizens make sense of European institutions and practices. My research combines qualitative and quantitative approaches and has a particular regional focus on German, Polish and French politics.
My research has been funded by the European Commission, the ESRC, the British Academy, the Polish-German Science Foundation and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Research grants and projects
Research Projects
Grants
Funder: UKRI (EC) Horizon Award
Duration: April 2023 - March 2026
Borders Shaping Perceptions of European Societies (B-SHAPES) is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action project analyzing and assessing how borders still are a key factor in how we understand societies. Eight European universities, one research institute, a national museum, a foundation, a political association, a consultancy, and an art collective have come together for three years. In cooperation with Europeans living in border regions, we will examine the role of borders under three lenses: 1) Euroscepticism in border regions, 2) minorities in border regions, and 3) border landscapes as heritage. The special border region focus promises new insights on how borders shape perceptions of societies, but also how the story of borders can be narrated differently than from a purely national perspective. B-SHAPES is a part of the European Union’s research program Horizon Europe and is coordinated by the Centre of Border Region Studies at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU).
Funder: British Academy
Duration: April 2016 - September 2017
Funder: Polish-German Science Foundation
Duration: May 2013 - June 2014
Funder: British Academy
Duration: July 2011 - June 2013
Project details
Completed:
Horizon Europe project B-Shapes: Borders shaping perceptions of European societies April 2023 – March 2026 (CI)
Euroregion Spree-Neisse-Bober #Partner2022 - Expanding cross-border partnerships in Euroregion Spree-Neisse-Bober August – November 2020 (consultancy contract)
Euroregion Spree-Neisse-Bober Initiating, supporting and developing cross-border cooperation in Euroregion Spree-Neisse-Bober August 2017 – November 2019 (consultancy contract)
British Academy Testing a new contextual theory of cross-border integration in Poland £9,620 April 2016 – September 2017 Katja Sarmiento-Mirwaldt (PI)
Polish-German Science Foundation Evaluation of EU-funded Small Projects €10,000 May 2013 – June 2014 Katja Sarmiento-Mirwaldt (CI)
British Academy Attitudes towards political ethics and misconduct in France £7,500 July 2011 – June 2013 Katja Sarmiento-Mirwaldt (CI)