Navigating Inequalities: Locating Agency in the Margins and International Aid – 5in10 with Fabrizio Leonardo Cuccu
Fabrizio Leonardo Cuccu is a Alumni Research Fellow at the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM), Tunisia and a Research Assistant at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Ireland. His research focuses on security, development and migration policies in postcolonial settings. He has published articles in the Cambridge Review of International Affairs, L’Année du Maghreb and Surveillance & Society.

How do you explain your work to someone who may not be an expert in the same field of inquiry and comes from another geographical context?
In my work, I explore how development and security policies are shaped in postcolonial contexts by examining the relationship between international narratives and local practices. I analyze how marginalized groups—such as young people—are framed in policy discourse (e.g. as threats or in need of intervention) and how these narratives influence the actions of local and international actors, such as NGOs. By doing so, I highlight the disconnect between international perceptions of inequality and the ways local actors experience and address it in their everyday work. Postcolonial contexts—former colonies and colonial powers—are particularly relevant because historical power structures continue to shape contemporary policies and interactions. My research aims to amplify local perspectives, which are often overlooked in global security and development agendas, and to show how past legacies still shape the present.
What intrigued you when you started your academic journey? What were formative encounters and challenges?
I first visited Tunisia in the summer of 2015 to study Arabic as part of my MA in International Relations. At the time, discussions about the 2014 elections were lively, and political engagement felt tangible. In 2018, during my first PhD summer, I returned for a summer school, where I met figures like Moncef Marzouki, Tunisia’s former president. His reflections on the post-2011 transition made clear how Western and European interests often prioritized security over Tunisia’s democratization, contrasting with the hopes many Tunisians had for political change. A key challenge in my research has been navigating the gap between international narratives and local realities—what is framed as “progress” or “risk” often looks very different from the ground. Building trust and accessing local perspectives, especially in politically sensitive contexts, has required patience, adaptability, and a constant reassessment of my position as a researcher.
How does your work relate to imaginations of the future, and how does it address questions of disparities?
Since the start of my academic career, I have examined how international institutions, such as the UN and the EU, govern postcolonial contexts through security, development, and migration programs. My focus, however, is on local NGOs and community actors, particularly in Tunisia, to uncover the disconnect between how international institutions frame issues like security and poverty and how local actors understand and address them. I believe that this work highlights differing imaginations of the future—whether through top-down policies or grassroots initiatives. At its core, every policy or program ultimately represents a specific vision of the future and a strategy for achieving it. As bell hooks suggests, focusing on the margins reveals counter-narratives, and my research seeks to amplify these perspectives. By exploring how Tunisian NGOs and community actors perceive disparities and propose solutions, I contribute to a broader understanding of how alternative futures—rooted in local agency rather than external interventions—are envisioned and pursued in postcolonial settings.
What is the role of humanities and social sciences in times of upheaval? And what may be the task and the public of a scholar?
In times of upheaval, the humanities and social sciences critically examine dominant narratives, uncover power dynamics, and amplify voices often sidelined. Critical scholarship reveals how policies and programs are shaped by specific interests and agendas—ones that may not align with local experiences and aspirations. By analyzing these disconnects, the social sciences challenge assumptions and propose alternative ways of understanding disparities and how to deal with them. I believe a scholar’s role is not just to produce knowledge but to engage with multiple publics—policymakers, civil society, and affected communities—to challenge dominant frameworks and inform more inclusive approaches. Research should not be detached from the realities it studies; rather, it should bridge different perspectives and help rethink solutions beyond top-down interventions. This means centering local agency and histories in discussions about both present challenges and future possibilities.
Can you recommend a book, text, film, or exhibition that effectively addresses questions and imaginations of the future while dealing with inequalities in interesting ways?
I love this question! The arts have a unique ability to convey complex ideas to a wider audience—something academics often struggle to do effectively. I’d like to recommend a Tunisian movie: The Man Who Sold His Skin (2020, by director Kaouther Ben Hania). This film offers a provocative critique of migration, the commodification of art, and the inequalities of global mobility. The story follows a Syrian refugee who, in search of a better future, allows a renowned artist to tattoo a Schengen visa on his back, effectively turning him into a living artwork. By doing so, he gains access to Europe—but at the cost of his own agency. The film powerfully highlights how borders function differently for people based on privilege, nationality, and economic status. It challenges viewers to question who truly has the freedom to move and how art can serve as both a critique and a tool of exploitation.
Citation: Navigating Inequalities: Locating Agency in the Margins and International Aid – 5in10 with Fabrizio Leonardo Cuccu, in: TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research, 08.05.2025, https://trafo.hypotheses.org/58949
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Forum Transregionale Studien (May 8, 2025). Navigating Inequalities: Locating Agency in the Margins and International Aid – 5in10 with Fabrizio Leonardo Cuccu. TRAFO – Blog for Transregional Research. Retrieved May 19, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/13w4e