Expert on Europe

Extensive: written, tv, radio

Dr Sara Silvestri is Senior Lecturer at City, University of London, where she teaches courses on the EU and on Religion and Politics. She is also a Bye Fellow of St Edmund’s College at the University of Cambridge, where she previously completed her doctorate (at St John's College/POLIS) and post-doc. Her research and publications focus on the relevance of religion in diplomacy, the mobilisation of faith-based transnational actors and also on how individual countries, EU institutions and other international organisations have developed policies addressing migration, religious diversity and faith communities. Sara has collaborated extensively with the policy world on these issues, including the European Commission, the FCO, DfID, Home Office, British Council, the UNFPA, the Vatican, Chatham House, the Anna Lindh Foundation, Brookings, the European Policy Centre and CEPS in Brussels. More specifically Dr Silvestri has examined Muslim political mobilisation in Europe, religious engagement within the institutions of the European Union, the role of religion in conflict and peace, radicalisation and counter-terrorism, and intercultural relations in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Her latest project studies the role of the Catholic church in the global governance of migration and asylum. Sara also serves as trustee of CCADD and the CCSTP.