Agency, structure, and reflexivity in displacement: The experience of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Germany

This article, based on 18 months of fieldwork in Lebanon and Germany, proposes a theoretical conceptualization of the interactions between agency, structure, and reflexivity in displacement. The research on which this paper is based looks at Syrian displaced families and explores the specificities of refugees’ agency. I argue that the specific conditions within which Syrian refugees act in Lebanon and Germany make them experience a suspended life. This condition is expressed by the concept of ‘liminality’, which functions as a non-structure and creates a framework in which alternative dimensions of agency and reflexivity can be exercised

Novel solid-state emissive polymers and polymeric blends from a T-Shaped benzodifuran scaffold: A comparative study

Two novel polyimines were synthesized from a benzodifuran based diamino monomer and two dialdehydes bearing bulky groups and a flexible spacer. The polymers display tuned luminescence performance according to the presence of half-salen groups. The effect of the intramolecular bond on the emission properties were examined. Two model compounds, replicating the same emissive Schiff base cores, were synthetized. From the models, dye-doped blends in the fluorophore/matrix ratio, resembling the polymers, were produced. Amorphous thin films of the covalent polymers and the polymeric blends were obtained by spin-coating technique. The Photoluminescent (PL) response of the different macromolecular systems were qualitatively and quantitatively examined and compared

Relocation of Syrian refugees entailing informal secondary mobility in Europe

Relocation of Syrian refugees entailing informal secondary mobility in Europe Today’s cross-national mobility of refugees is bounded to EU’s hospitality, protection and border control policies. In particular, the programme of relocation, which has come to an end in 2017, has supported refugees’ movement and resettlement between Member States, but it has also failed in avoiding people’s risky journeys across borders. Syrian refugees, who are relocated mostly from Greece, imagine their life and their social and educational development in the countries of Northern and Central Europe, where they have solid social networks and multiple possibilities to be successfully included into the labour market. Southern and Eastern European countries are considered “undesirable countries of relocation”. Yet, findings show that refugees’ needs, expectations and skills are not elements of discussion between sending and receiving States of relocation, nor a real commitment towards their social and labour market integration is taken. Insecurities created by those lacunae trigger insecurity towards the future, which bring about informal movements and secondary migration within a framework of insecurity. This study is the result of a qualitative research conducted in 2017 through semi-structured interviews with Syrian refugees, social workers and experts. It lies on the assumption that when security of protection is high, refugees’ mobility is bounded, when insecurity towards the future overcomes security of protection people undertake informal movements and secondary migration within a framework of insecurity

Musiche e frontiere: alcune riflessioni teoriche

Il modo in cui la musica, in determinati contesti, viene utilizzata per costruire, mantenere e negoziare i confini etnici e culturali viene presentato attraverso la breve analisi delle posizioni espresse a partire dal XX secolo intorno al concetto di confine e frontiera nell'ambito dell’antropologia e dell’etnomusicologia

Bernard Lortat-Jacob. Una etnomusicología íntima

l'A. intervista lo studioso a proposito della natura e della definizione dell'etnomusicologia ogg

Choir transhumance in the Filipino Catholic community in Rome

The article is part of a research project (2014-2018) among Christian immigrants in Rome and focuses particularly on the Filipino community. Serena Facci presents the general context of the migrant church experience of Rome, a city historically considered as central to the wider transnational community of Catholic Christians, where, thanks to the hosting politics of the Vicariate, there are several ‘national’ and ‘multinational’ churches, characterised by liturgies in different languages and by repertoires of chants in different geocultural styles. The migrants’ position in the holy city is juxtaposed with the multicentricity of the diaspora and the mediation between the motherland and the new places of residence. Grazia Tuzi shows how the Filipinos in Rome represent this multicentricity through the liturgical services of musical groups and choirs from the peripheral churches surrounding Rome. On Sundays, the Filipino micro-communities proceed in a kind of “transhumant” movement according to a predetermined schedule, from their parishes to the Chaplaincy located in the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana, which is the gathering place of all Filipinos living in Rome. Here they accompany the Sunday liturgy and religious Festivals in performances that bear witness to a remarkable musical variety. The analysis of these musical practices and the complex organization of the choir’s "transhumance" from the periphery to the centre can facilitate the understanding of the processes used by this migrant community in the re-articulation and maintenance of their own identity in the new socio-cultural spheres.  The article is part of a research project (2014-2018) among Christian immigrants in Rome and focuses particularly on the Filipino community. Serena Facci presents the general context of the migrant church experience of Rome, a city historically considered as central to the wider transnational community of Catholic Christians, where, thanks to the hosting politics of the Vicariate, there are several ‘national’ and ‘multinational’ churches, characterised by liturgies in different languages and by repertoires of chants in different geocultural styles. The migrants’ position in the holy city is juxtaposed with the multicentricity of the diaspora and the mediation between the motherland and the new places of residence. Grazia Tuzi shows how the Filipinos in Rome represent this multicentricity through the liturgical services of musical groups and choirs from the peripheral churches surrounding Rome. On Sundays, the Filipino micro-communities proceed in a kind of “transhumant” movement according to a predetermined schedule, from their parishes to the Chaplaincy located in the Basilica of Santa Pudenziana, which is the gathering place of all Filipinos living in Rome. Here they accompany the Sunday liturgy and religious Festivals in performances that bear witness to a remarkable musical variety. The analysis of these musical practices and the complex organization of the choir’s "transhumance" from the periphery to the centre can facilitate the understanding of the processes used by this migrant community in the re-articulation and maintenance of their own identity in the new socio-cultural spheres.

Climate evaluation in museums buildings. Two case studies

Museums represent our cultural heritage and are buildings of great importance as well as of significant representative character. Museums are very special buildings, since they are supposed to preserve important and in many cases unique, cultural heritage objects from outdoor climatic conditions. In our country there are two typologies of museum building; buildings designed to be museums and old traditional and historic buildings used as museums. This paper focuses on these two typologies considering as a case study the building of National Historical Museum in Tirana (NHM) and Iconographic Museum “Onufri” (IMO) in Berat. In some of the new museum facilities the indoor environment conditions were established by heating only or by HVAC systems. Actually all these systems are out of use and the indoor climatic conditions are not monitored anymore. Museum facilities housed in traditional and historic buildings are naturally ventilated, constructed with traditional materials and techniques. These buildings used to respond passively to climate. Such constructions have physical and spatial qualities that should be evaluated, acknowledge and enhanced or rejuvenated. The two case studies were selected based on the characteristics as above mentioned, representing NHM first typology and IOM second one. The study aims to measure, evaluate and analyze the NHM and IMO facilities indoor conditions focusing on the thermal and hygrometric parameters (Temperature and Air relative humidity). Both T and RH are key control variables to ensure the conservation of cultural heritage. The data of this study will serve for future interventions of the building aiming to improve the indoor climatic parameters and the building efficiency

Double Skin Facade - Why Not?

For centuries architects focussed their artistics skills on the creation of a successful external appearance for their structures. This was often the subject of what the style to be chosen, but was also exploited as a medium for conveyong new artistics stances. The fact that facades are again becoming a subject for discussion is no doubt due to the growing importance of the building envelope with respect to energy consomption and options for exploiting natural forms of energy