Whose responsibility is it to address the disrespect felt by immigrants and other marginalised groups in their dealings with government institutions. In this seminar Ibi Losoncz, the author of Institutional Disrespect, argues that when disrespect comes in the forms of injustice, institutional mistreatment, or systemic in governance arrangements, the responsibility lies not with individuals but with the state, its institutions and its appointed bureaucrats. Combining theoretical analysis of institutional engagement through the lens of respect with examples of the resettlement experiences of South Sudanese Australians, the seminar examines how blocked pathways to develop positive self-identities and meaningful lives can lead to a breakdown of social bonds between immigrants and social institutions.

Ibolya (Ibi) Losoncz is a research fellow at the School of Regulation and Global Governance (RegNet), at the ANU. Her research focuses on the interplay between individual and institutional elements of integration and inclusion. Her research focuses on the experiences of resettled refugees in their dealings with Australian government and social institutions. She has published in a range of international journals, including Journal of Refugee Studies, Child Abuse and Neglect, Journal of International Migration and Integration, and The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology. Her broader research interest includes: forced migration and settlement, African diaspora, responsive regulation and institutional legitimacy, empirical evaluation, and research design. Ibi is a Chair of the Board of Companion House: Assisting Survivors of Torture and Trauma.

The Migration and Displacement Discussion Group invites ANU researchers to come together to bridge our disciplinary divides and engage in a wider conversation.