Maria Dimitriadi

Supervisors: Dr Kasia Wodniak and Dr Julie Byrne

Email

Nationality: Greek

Working Title of PhD: “Social policy in emergency settings: a study of crisis and disaster management policies in Greece”

Description of Research: 

The specific research investigates the management of disasters caused by natural hazards through the scope of social policy, opting for a critical view of the actors involved in that regard. More specifically, the study focuses on the region of East Attica of Greece, the municipality of Acharnes, whose experience with extreme climatic events has not yet been registered properly in the national framework of disaster planning, thereby leading to disproportionate losses for the local community. The main objective that permeates this research is to identify to what extent the different types of catastrophes are solely the result of natural hazards (structural factors) and/or the outcome of intergovernmental maladministration (systemic factors). Through this framework, the study seeks to identify the policy dynamics between (non-) state actors in decision-making processes at a local and regional level of administration, opening the discussion for a more collaborative approach to disaster governance.

Seminar Presentations/Conference Presentations:

• Development Studies Association Conference 2026. Roundtable contribution titled “Sustainable welfare for whom? Challenging privileged vulnerability in the age of disasters.” Dublin, Ireland.
• FEANTSA Forum 2025: Seminar contribution titled “Tackling Homelessness in Greece: Hope and Progress in Times of Austerity”. Athens, Greece.