Aureja Stirbyte

Profile

My interest in multiple topics and perspectives has led me to have a varied and interdisciplinary academic education. I completed my BA in Philosophy and Sociology at the University of York where I discovered my long-lasting interest in the sociological imagination and abstract theory. The degree encouraged me to study further and I went on to complete two MA degrees, one in Continental Philosophy at the University of Warwick and another in Sociology and Social Anthropology at the Central European University. I learnt the limits and advantages of approaches of different disciplines which fostered my love for interdisciplinary research.

I am very grateful that I am able to continue doing interdisciplinary research at the University of Leeds, supervised by Prof. Ipek Demir (Sociology and Social Policy) and Lorna Waddington (History).

Research interests

My current PhD research is concerned with the development of white supremacy, especially in Europe, and its normalization in contemporary discourses. I will be analysing the development of conspiracy theories of 'white genocide' and 'great replacement' and how they are able to adapt to social, political and cultural changes.

I am interested in how these ideas are normalised and made more acceptable through media and books. My research focuses on the historical roots of racism and how it is able to reinvent itself to remain current and relevant.

Qualifications

• MA in Sociology and Social Anthropology, Central European University, Hungary
• MA in Continental Philosophy, University of Warwick, UK
• BA in Philosophy and Sociology, University of York, UK

Research groups and institutes

• Centre for Ethnicity and Racism Studies