Sara Silvestri

Dr Sara Silvestri is an interdisciplinary social scientist fascinated by the role of faith in society and in international relations and its implications for the governance of an increasingly diverse Europe.

Her research, teaching, and publications focus on Islam, political mobilisation, and transnational networks; the emergence of Muslim institutions and pressure groups in Europe; Political Islam; Muslim-government relations; the debate on 'radical' versus 'moderate' Islam.

She also has a broader interest in European public policies towards religion; the nexus immigration-integration-social exclusion; Catholic Social Teaching and the contribution of faith-based (esp.Christian) groups in responses to migrant/refugee flows.

She is currently involved in two projects: a book 'Europe's Muslim women: beyond the burqa controversy', based on original empirical research in 5 countries and a study of the role of Christian organisations, especially the Catholic church in the global governance of migration.

Her past collaborative research includes publications and outreach initiatives on Religion and Diplomacy (with Prof.P.Mandaville, sponsored by the British Council and the Luce Foundation), and The Role of Religion in Conflict and Peace building (British Academy 2015).

Sara also collaborated with media and Irish experts in an ESRC-funded comparative study of the impact of British counterterrorism upon Irish and Muslim communities, presented in Parliament on 7/7/2011.

Dr Silvestri has been the recipient of numerous research grants (including ESRC, NORFACE, ESF), is a member of Euro-Islam.info and the Muslims in Britain Research Network. During 2007-14 she jointly convened the BISA working group on Religion, Security and International Relations. In June 2011 she co-convened a major ESF-sponsored international conference on religion, gender and multiculturalism held in Sweden.