Marion Greziller

Marion is the awardee of the inaugural Mick Moran Doctoral Scholarship.

Marion Greziller

Marion grew up in La Rochelle, France. After graduating from high school, she went on to pursue higher education in European politics and international relations in Lille (France), Linköping (Sweden) and Birmingham (UK).

Most recently a trainee in EULEX Kosovo in Pristina, Marion is joining The University of Manchester in September 2018 to pursue a PhD in Politics.

She is the recipient of the inaugural Mick Moran Doctoral Studentship.

Can you tell us about your research proposal? 

My PhD intends to demonstrate that new meanings and interpretations for the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda are created during its implementation in all levels of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

The Women, Peace and Security UN resolutions aim to address the different security needs of men and women, support the role of women in promoting peace and security, and encourage its signatories in integrating a gender perspective in their security policies.

Exploring discourses and practices of actors in Brussels and in EULEX Kosovo, I will uncover potential tensions between policy and practice, and divergent interpretations of the WPS agenda within CSDP. Specifically, I will examine how existing norms of masculinity in CSDP and the neo-liberal understanding of gender within the EU shape the interpretation(s) of the WPS agenda and how it impacts the EU as a security and gender actor.  

What are your research interests?

My main research interests are: 

  • Women, Peace and Security agenda
  • Feminist approaches to security studies
  • Gender and EU Common Security and Defence Policy

What were your motivations behind applying for a PhD at The University of Manchester? 

I was first attracted to The University of Manchester for its high-quality academic and research-intensive environment for politics and international relations, ranked in the top ten in the UK, and for the opportunity to work with my supervisors, Dr Laura McLeod and Prof Georgina Waylen.

The University offers everything I am looking for to become a well-rounded academic: teaching opportunities, a great support system for postgraduates, and top-notch academics in my field.

Additionally, when I came to Manchester, a multi-cultural and vibrant city, I felt right at home!

What do you hope to achieve with your research? 

I hope for my PhD to be my first step in the world of academia as I aim to pursue an academic career in the field of higher education either in the UK or elsewhere.

After my first experience in a CSDP mission as an intern, I am also passionate for my research to not only have a modest academic contribution but also to be of help for practitioners working on gender and security in the field.

What does receiving the inaugural Mick Moran Doctoral Studentship mean to you?

It is a great honour to be selected as the first recipient of this studentship. It is a fantastic opportunity for me to be able to pursue my research and develop as a researcher.

I feel incredibly lucky and inspired to be associated with Prof Mick Moran, who has made an indelible mark on The University of Manchester, the field of politics and British higher education.

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