Faisal Alakoozi
DARE Project: Migrant Activism in Digital Spaces and in Real Life: Contesting Far-Right Anti-Immigration Rhetoric
Program(s) of Study: Political Science
Project Supervisor: Ethel Tungohan
This project sharpened both my research toolkit and my substantive expertise in migration studies — skills I'll carry into graduate work and a research career focused on migrant justice. It also deepened my commitment to work that bridges rigorous scholarship with real-world advocacy.
Project Description:
My DARE project examined migrant mobilization across Canada, the U.S., and transnationally, focusing on how activists respond to escalating far-right anti-immigration rhetoric, with particular attention to post-Trump electoral developments. I conducted a systematic literature review and built an annotated bibliography on migrant activism, digital organizing, and anti-immigration politics. Beyond the literature review, I conducted digital content analysis of pro- and anti-migrant discourse and counter-mobilization strategies, and maintained a database documenting migrant organizations, their advocacy strategies, digital practices, and coalition networks. I recruited and conducted interviews with migrant activists to examine coalition-building, experiences of surveillance, and responses to political polarization, while attending methodological workshops and consulting with Dr. Ethel Tungohan to ensure analytical rigor and research ethics compliance.The Dean’s Award for Research Excellence (DARE) - Undergraduate enables our students to meaningfully engage in research projects supervised by LA&PS faculty members. Find out more about DARE.