Brendan Quail
Brendan Quail
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Geography, Queen’s University, Belfast 2005
MA International Social Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich 2008
Postgraduate
Email: bquail01@qub.ac.uk
Address
School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology (GAP)
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland, UK
Current Research: Society, Space and Culture (SSC)
Formation and use of social capital among asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland
My interests are centred on the concept of social capital and its significance in assisting members of Northern Ireland’s refugee community. Social capital, widely accepted, constitutes one’s ability to secure benefits by virtue of membership in social networks or other social structures. In theory, people with a considerable amount and diversity of social networks and civic associations in stock are in a better position to deal with adversities in life.
With this contention in mind, my doctoral research study seeks to identify and build an understanding of the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees through two distinct aspects of transition from country of origin to their new host country; migration from country of origin and settlement in Northern Ireland. An attempt will be made to examine the formation and use of social capital by asylum seekers as they endure migratory journeys, taking into account decision making processes involved; and the role of social capital in assisting asylum seekers’ and refugees’ settlement in Northern Ireland.
Research Interests
Asylum seekers, refugees, social capital, migration, geography.
Supervisors
Prof. Steve Royle (Queen’s University Belfast)
Dr. Carl Griffin (Queen’s University Belfast)
Presentations
‘Ethnic diversity in Belfast: an international perspective beyond the catholic and protestant divide’, Geographical Association- Autumn lecture series 2012, School of GAP, Queens University, Belfast, October 2012
Additional Information:
Full Department of Employment and Learning (NI) funding for current doctoral research.
Demonstrator on final year undergraduate module ‘Third World Urbanisation and Sustainable Development’, 2007
