Staff Profile

Dr Dimitris Skleparis is a Senior Lecturer in the Politics of Security at Newcastle University. He received his PhD in Political Science from Queen Mary University of London (2015) with a specialisation in the securitisation of migration and the politics of migrant activism. He also holds an MSc (Distinction) in Social Science Research Methods from the University of Bristol (2009), and a BA in Communication and Media from the University of Athens (2008). He has published in a range of international peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to several edited volumes, research project reports, and policy briefs. He also has considerable media and consultancy experience. Dimitris is a fellow of the European Institute for International Law and International Relations (EIIR) and the Co-Convenor of the Greek Politics Specialist Group (GPSG) of the Political Studies Association (PSA).

Dimitris has previously worked as a Lecturer in Politics at the University of Glasgow and as an Internship Programme Lecturer and Coordinator at the University of California (Edinburgh Study Centre). He has also worked as a Research Associate at the University of Glasgow, and as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP).

Research Interests 

Dimitris’s research sits at the intersection of critical security studies and migration/refugee studies, exploring how migration is governed, perceived, portrayed and experienced in contexts of heightened insecurity. His work examines the interplay between threat perceptions, security discourses, and practices, with a focus on their human impact. Dimitris employs an interdisciplinary approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to address key issues such as:

• The role of the audience/public opinion in (de)securitisation processes
• The influence of emotions and affect in shaping (de)securitisation
• The impact of collective memories of war and forced migration on security narratives and threat perceptions
• Migrant/Refugee Experiences of Settlement and Integration
• Migrant/Refugee Activism and Radical Protest
• Dynamics of far-right extremism and radicalisation

Undergraduate Teaching

Module Leader: POL3117 Politics of Immigration

Postgraduate Teaching

Module Co-Leader: POL8026 Security: Politics, Space and Society

Feedback, Guidance & Consultation Hours

Tuesdays, 11:00 – 13:00

Thursdays, 14:00 – 15:00

(In-Person or via Zoom) 

• Articles

  • Mulvey G, Skleparis D, Boyle B. Territorial variance in the UK's refugee politics and its consequences: Young Syrian refugees in England and Scotland. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space 2023, 415(5), 958-975.
  • Karyotis G, Skleparis D, Patrikios S. New migrant activism: Frame alignment and future protest participation. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations 2022, 24(2), 381-400.
  • Kreutler M, Fengler S, Asadi N, Bodrunova S, Budivska H, Diop L, Ertz G, Gigola D, Katus E, Kovacs D, Kus M, Lab F, Litvinenko A, Mack J, Maier S, Pinto Martinho A, Matei A, Miller KC, Oppermann L, Perez Vara E, Polyak G, Ravisankar R, Rodriguez Perez C, Semova DJ, Skleparis D, Splendore S, Stefanikova S, Szynol A, Telo D, Zguri R. Migration Coverage in Europe, Russia and the United States : A comparative Analysis of Coverage in 17 countries (2015-2018). Central European Journal of Communication 2022, 15(2), 31.
  • Fengler S, Bastian M, Brinkmann J, Zappe AC, Tatah V, Andindilile M, Assefa E, Chibita M, Mbaine A, Obonyo L, Quashigah T, Skleparis D, Splendore S, Tadesse M, Lengauer M. Covering Migration—in Africa and Europe: Results from a Comparative Analysis of 11 Countries. Journalism Practice 2022, 16(1), 140-160.
  • Karyotis G, Mulvey G, Skleparis D. Young Syrian refugees in the UK: a two-tier system of international protection?. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 2021, 47(3), 481-500.
  • Karyotis G, Connolly J, Collignon S, Makropoulos I, Judge A, Rudig W, Skleparis D. What drives support for social distancing? Pandemic politics, securitisation and crisis management in Britain. European Political Science Review 2021, 13(4).
  • Kyle J, Skleparis D, Mair FS, Gallacher KI. What helps and hinders the provision of healthcare that minimises treatment burden and maximises patient capacity? A qualitative study of stroke health professional perspectives. BMJ Open 2020, 10, e034113.
  • Skleparis D, Augestad Knudsen R. Localising 'radicalisation': Risk assessment practices in Greece and the United Kingdom. British Journal of Politics and International Relations 2020, 22(2), 309-327.
  • Crawley H, Skleparis D. Refugees, migrants, neither, both: categorical fetishism and the politics of bounding in Europe's 'migration crisis'. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 2018, 44(1), 48-64.
  • Skleparis D. 'A Europe without Walls, without Fences, without Borders': A Desecuritisation of Migration Doomed to Fail. Political Studies 2018, 66(4), 985-1001.
  • Skleparis D. The Politics of Migrant Resistance amid the Greek Economic Crisis. International Political Sociology 2017, 11(2), 113-129.
  • Skleparis D. European Governments' Responses to the 'Refugee Crisis': the Interdependence of EU Internal and External Controls. Southeastern Europe 2017, 41(3), 276-301.
  • Lazaridis G, Skleparis D. Securitization of migration and the far right: the case of Greek security professionals. International Migration 2016, 54(2), 176-192.
  • Skleparis D. (In)securitization and illiberal practices on the fringe of the EU. European Security 2016, 25(1), 92-111.
  • Karyotis G, Skleparis D. Qui Bono? The winners and losers of securitising migration. Griffith Law Review 2014, 22(3), 683-706.

• Book Chapters

  • Skleparis D. Rationalising human rights violations in immigration enforcement: the case of Greek security professionals. In: O'Neill, M; Swinton, K, ed. Challenges and Critiques of the EU Internal Security Strategy: Rights, Power and Security. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars, 2017, pp.85-112.
  • Anagnostou D, Skleparis D. Human rights in European prisons: can the implementation of Strasbourg Court judgments influence penitentiary reform domestically?. In: Daems, T; Robert, L, ed. Europe in Prisons: Assessing the Impact of European Institutions on National Prison Systems. Palgrave Macmillan, 2017, pp.37-77.
  • Skleparis D, Armakolas I. The refugee crisis and the role of NGOs, civil society, and media in Greece. In: Phillips, D L, ed. Balkan Human Corridor: Essays on the Refugee and Migrant Crisis from Scholars and Opinion Leaders in Southeast Europe. New York: Institute for the Study of Human Rights (ISHR), Columbia University, 2016, pp.171-184.
  • Karyotis G, Skleparis D. Resistance to the criminalization of migration: migrant protest in Greece. In: Furman, R; Lamphear, G; Epps, D, ed. The Immigrant Other: Lived Experiences in a Transnational World. New York: Columbia University Press, 2016, pp.266-282.
  • Bolani L, Gemi E, Skleparis D. Refugee Crisis and Asylum Policies in Greece and Italy. In: Shteiwi, M, ed. Migrants and Refugees. Impact and Policies. Case Studies of Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. Barcelona: EuroMeSCo, 2016, pp.83-109.
  • Skleparis D. Towards a hybrid 'shadow state'? The case of migrant-/refugee- serving NGOs. In: Clarke, J; Huliaras, A; Sotiropoulos, DA, ed. Austerity and the Third Sector in Greece: Civil Society at the European Frontline. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate, 2015, pp.147-166.
  • Karyotis G, Skleparis D. Migrant Mobilisation during the Economic Crisis: Identity Formation and Dilemmas. In: Tsilimpounidi M; Walsh A, ed. Remapping 'Crisis': A Guide to Athens. Hampshire: Zero Books, 2014, pp.124-143.

• Editorial

  • Tsagkroni V, Alencar A, Skleparis D. Editorial: Media and Migration in the Covid-19 Pandemic—Discourses, Policies, and Practices in Times of Crisis. Media and Communication 2022, 10(2), 214-217.

• Online Publications

  • Skleparis D. Φιλο-Ευρωπαίοι και Αντι-Μετανάστες. Athens: Eteron, 2024. Available at: https://eteron.org/filo-eyropaioi-kai-anti-metanastes/.
  • Skleparis D. Opinion – The Tenuous Links Between ‘Food’ and ‘Migration’ Crises. E-International Relations, 2022. Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2022/09/29/opinion-the-tenuous-links-between-food-and-migration-crises/?fbclid=IwAR3Gj7OX8SIAcEp8z5346Uk0fkct6IooZoTZeUfqKO4w8R74qKahWAvZ2tw.
  • Skleparis D. Küresel Bir Gıda Krizi Bir “Göç Krizi”ne Yol Açar mı?. Cologne: Perspectif, 2022. Available at: https://perspektif.eu/2022/09/27/kuresel-bir-gida-krizi-bir-goc-krizine-yol-acar-mi/.
  • Skleparis D. Interview – Dimitris Skleparis. E-International Relations, 2022. Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/2022/02/26/interview-dimitris-skleparis/.
  • Skleparis D. Batı ve Ukraynalı Mülteciler: Yeni Soğuk Savaş Mülteci Politikalarının Başlangıcı mı?. Turkey: Perspectif, 2022. Available at: https://perspektif.eu/2022/05/05/bati-ve-ukraynali-multeciler-yeni-soguk-savas-multeci-politikalarinin-baslangici-mi/.
  • Skleparis D. ‘All animals are equal’: the relationship between the Cummings row and public trust in democracy. London: LSE British Politics and Policy, 2020. Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/trust-in-democracy-lockdown/.
  • Skleparis D. Explaining the absence of Islamist terrorist attacks and radicalisation in Greece. Athens: ELIAMEP, 2017. Available at: https://tinyurl.com/yxs3fk2y.
  • Skleparis D. The Islamist Threat amidst the Refugee Crisis: Background and Policy Proposals. Athens: ELIAMEP, 2015. Available at: https://www.eliamep.gr/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Briefing-Notes_37_September-2015_Skleparis-Dimitris-1.pdf.
  • Skleparis D. Human rights violations in immigration enforcement at the external borders of the EU. openDemocracy, 2014. Available at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/human-rights-violations-in-immigration-enforcement-at-external/.

• Reports

  • Tsagkroni V, Karyotis G, Makropoulos I, Lamprinakou C, Tsarouhas D, Skleparis D, Rori L. Νεολαία και Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση: Στάσεις, Προσδιοριστικοί Παράγοντες και Διαγενεακές Δυναμικές. diaNeosis, 2022.
  • Leontitsis V, Tsagkroni V, Vosinakis G, Gerodimos R, Dimopoulou D, Karyotis G, Skleparis D. Συγκριτική Ανάλυση Ένταξης Μεταναστών και Προσφύγων στην Ελλάδα [Comparative Analysis of Migrant and Refugee Integration in Greece]. diaNEOsis, 2020.
  • Skleparis D. Refugee Integration in Mainland Greece: Prospects and Challenges. Bornova, Turkey: Yaşar University, UNESCO Chair on International Migration, 2018. 02.
  • Skleparis D, Karyotis G. Integrationspolitik in Griechenland [Integration Policy in Greece]. Berlin: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e. V, 2018. Perspektiven der Integrationspolitik Ausgabe 309.
  • Karyotis G, Colburn B, Doyle L, Hermannsson K, Mulvey G, Skleparis D. Building a New Life in Britain: The Skills, Experiences and Aspirations of Young Syrian Refugees. Glasgow: Policy Scotland, 2018.
  • Skleparis D. The Greek response to the migration challenge: 2015-2017. Athens: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V, 2017. KAS katoptron 05.
  • Dzhekova R, Moravec L, Bláhová P, Ludvík J, Stejskal L, Anagnostou D, Skleparis D, Stoynova N. Situational Assessment of Extremist Trends. Sofia, Bulgaria: Center for the Study of Democracy, 2017.
  • Anagnostou D, Skleparis D. Radicalisation that may lead to Violence: Policy Report on Greece. Athens: ELIAMEP, 2017.
  • Crawley H, Duvell F, Jones K, Skleparis D. Understanding the dynamics of migration to Greece and the EU: drivers, decisions and destinations. Coventry: Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, 2016. Research Brief No.2.
  • Gillespie M, Lawrence A, Cheesman M, Faith B, Illiou E, Issa A, Osseiran S, Skleparis D. Mapping Refugee Media Journeys: Smartphones and Social Media Networks. The Open University / France Médias Monde, 2016.
  • Anagnostou D, Kontogianni A, Skleparis D, Tzogopoulos G. Local Government and Migrant Integration in Greece. Athens, Greece: ELIAMEP, 2016.
  • Anagnostou D, Skleparis D. Trends in Radicalisation that may lead to Violence: National Background Study – Greece. Athens: ELIAMEP, 2015.

• Working Papers

  • Gemi E, Triandafyllidou A, Dimitriadi A, Aggeli D, Skleparis D, Nikolova M, Maroufof M. Αλφαβητάρι της Μετανάστευσης [Glossary on Migration]. 2015, 64/2015.
  • Karyotis G, Skleparis D. Migrant Lived Experiences and Resistance to the Securitisation of Migration in Greece: The Modern ‘300’. 2014, 18.