Thesis Title: Spatial Inequality & Political Discontent
Supervisors: Professor Michael Biggs and Professor Christiaan Monden
Maela is a DPhil (PhD) candidate in Sociology at Nuffield College. She previously studied Political Science at Sciences Po and Data and Economics at École Polytechnique. She also worked as a research assistant in Chile (CEAS, Universidad Mayor), Belgium (ISPOLE, UCLouvain), and France (CRIS/LIEPP, Sciences Po).
Maela's research examines the role of spatial inequality in shaping political discontent, ranging from voting to more contentious forms of mobilisation. In particular, she examines public service deprivation and processes of segregation—especially in small and medium-sized towns—and their impact on political discontent. The empirical focus of her DPhil is primarily on France (Yellow Vest movement, pension reform protests, and the 2023 riots), with a comparative perspective on Chile.
She also works with Marco Oberti (CRIS, Sciences Po) on the socio-territorial dynamics of the 2005 and 2023 French riots.
Research Interests: Spatial Inequality, Political Discontent, Segregation, Small Towns, Social Cohesion
Previous Education: BA Political Science, Sciences Po Rennes; MRes Political Science, Sciences Po Paris; MSc Data & Economics for Public Policy, Ecole Polytechnique, ENSAE
