缅北禁地

My research focuses on migration, governance and ethics. I am interested in inequalities faced by migrants in the labour market and in other parts of everyday life. I have published extensively on rural governance and regeneration, international migration and on research ethics and methodologies. I am an active member of various international research networks including the European Society for Rural Sociology (ESRS) and European Sociological Association. I am currently co-editor-in-chief of Sociologia Ruralis. I am an elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and a trustee of the Plunkett Foundation.

My research is strongly oriented towards migration and I continue to conduct research with migrant communities in the UK. I have a practitioner background and prior to working in higher education I held various positions in the voluntary and community sector and within local government. I consistently collaborate with external partners including third sector organisations and local government.

I welcome inquiries from prospective PhD researchers on the issues identified above. I also welcome international visiting PhD researchers.

Google scholar:

ORCID:

I have obtained funding from research foundations, government third sector and industry. All of my research carries significant social and economic impact. For example, my Joseph Rowntree Funded research on migration led to various policy and advisory roles including advising the Northern Ireland government on a proposed Racial Equality Strategy, addressing a NI Assembly Committee and speaking at a central government lunchtime seminar series.

I am an elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. I am an active member of  (ESRS); and the (ESA) (). I am co-editor of , a leading European journal for rural sociology and a trustee of.

Previous projects

Nature Returns: Nature for People and Places in the Wansbeck Catchment (Natural England and Environment Agency) (2024-25) (with Sarah Best, NICRE). Exploring community use of green and blue spaces from sea to source.

The impact of Brexit on Women and Girls (Equality Commission, Northern Ireland) (2023-24) (with Katharine AM Wright) Evaluation of the impact of Brexit and policy recommendations.

Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain (Food Standards Agency) (2022). This research examined the implications of labour shortages across different parts of the food system. 

Review of Rural Development funding, Rural Community Network (Northern Ireland) (2022). This project identified how the UK government’s replacement funds for EU initiatives could meet the needs of rural communities in Northern Ireland.

Local Perspectives on Community and Economy (DEFRA). This project examined rural community development through exploring the 'lived experience' in terms of relationships between economy, society, local context, and service delivery (2020-22)

National Institute of Health Research: Applied Research Collaborations (2021-22) (with HAREF and Riverside Community Health Project). This project used the coronavirus pandemic as a prism through which to research health inequalities.

Diversified Rural: Understanding Differences Within and Between the UK and Ireland, (ESRC-Irish Research Council) (2021-22). This network examined how to reframe rural policy in a context of UK exit from the EU and post-pandemic rebuilding.

Transnational Theory Building for Researching the Global Countryside: Perspectives from Taiwan and the UK, ESRC (2021-22). This project examined how 'transnational theory' can advance understanding of the global, national and regional dynamics that are reshaping rural societies and economies around the world.

Non-Agricultural Seasonal Workers in Rural and Urban Scotland, (Scottish Government). This is mixed method project estimated the number of seasonal migrant workers in Scotland and examined their everyday lives including their working conditions and their future intentions in the context of Brexit.

HAMLETS. Immigration and Sustainable Development in Micro Villages (Recer Caixa), led by Ricard Morén Alegret (Department of Geography, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona). This project examined the contribution that (international and internal) immigrants make to the sustainable development of small rural municipalities in Catalonia.

Evaluation of ‘Going for Growth’, Friends of the Earth (January 2016 – March 2017). This research examined the capacity of the Going for Growth strategy to contribute to food security.

Supervision

I am interested in supervising research students on migration including forced migrants; economic mobility; seasonal workers and food systems; social integration; transnationalism. The other broad theme that I am keen to supervise is sustainability and rural development including projects focused on changing rural communities and society; sustainable development, participation and governance; rural planning and economic development. I welcome international visiting PhD researchers from other institutions.

Currently I am supervising the following students:

Rebecca Jackson (FT) with Shildrick, NCL

Federica Consentina (FT), Catania University with Peri, Catania and Brunori, Pisa

Sneha Solanki (FT) with Talbot, Bagelman, NCL (in partnership with The Maltings, Berwick)

Danlei Huang (FT) with Pasquetti, NCL and Repo, NCL

Ben Davies (FT) with Johnson, NCL and Taylor, NCL

Completed PhDs:

Claire Boden, 2024

Raphaela Berding, 2024

Jake Pointer, 2024

Colin Watson, 2024

Adrienne Attorp, 2022

Claire O’Boyle, 2018

Carey Doyle, 2017

Aisling Murphy, 2014

Anne Rice, 2014

Jonathan Bell, 2013

Lori McVay, 2011

Other research activities

I regularly participate in academic conferences and have presented papers and organised working groups and panels at conferences of the European Rural Sociology Association, the American Rural Sociological Society, ESA and IMISCOE. I provide ethical review for the European Commission and scientific reviews for a range of Research Councils including the Swedish Research Council (Formas). I am regularly invited to review academic articles and books for a range of high impact journals. 

I am currently Head of Subject and not leading any modules.

Curriculum Development

I have co-led the development of new Masters taught programmes in International Security and Gender, both commencing 2025

Teaching experience

Most recent modules include:

• SOC3098 Community and Conflict in the Countryside
• SOC8050 Migration, Mobilities and Inequalities
• SOC2070 Researching Social Life II

In the past I have taught UG Planning Students on a range of topics including European Planning Studies, Regeneration, Economics and Planning; and Work-Based Practice.

• Articles

  • McAreavey R, Wright KAM, Donaldson R. Social Justice in Post-Conflict Societies: Lessons from Northern Ireland. The British Journal of Sociology 2025.
  • Asikainen H, McAreavey R. . Sociologia Ruralis 2025, 65(1), e12486.
  • Wright KAM, McAreavey R, Donaldson R. . Journal of Common Market Studies 2024, 62(5), 1408-1416.
  • Morén-Alegret R, Milazzo J, McAreavey R, Keaveney K. . Irish Geography 2024, 56(2), 91-122.
  • Berding-Barwick R, McAreavey R. . Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 2023, 50(8), 1843-1861.
  • Caruso C, McAreavey R, Sirkeci I. . Voluntary Sector Review 2023, 14(3), 400-420.
  • Arora-Jonsson A, McAreavey R. . Sociologia Ruralis 2023, 63(3), 771-792.
  • McAreavey R. . Journal of Rural Studies 2022, 96, 227-236.
  • Phillipson J, Gorton M, Turner R, Shucksmith M, Aitken-McDermott K, Areal F, Cowie P, Hubbard C, Maioli S, McAreavey R, Souza-Monteiro D, Newbery R, Panzone L, Rowe F, Shortall S. . Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 3973.
  • Attorp A, McAreavey R. . Journal of Rural Studies 2020, 79, 302-310.
  • Mendoza C, Moren-Alegret R, McAreavey R. . Belgeo 2020, 1.
  • McAreavey R. . Europa XXI 2019, 37, 37-52.
  • McAreavey R, Krivokapic-Skoko B. . Sociologia Ruralis 2019, 59, 329-349.
  • McAreavey R, Brown DL. . Palgrave Communications 2019, 5, 120.
  • McAreavey R, Argent N. . Journal of Rural Studies 2018, 64, 267-275.
  • Doebler S, McAreavey R, Shortall S. . Ethnic and Racial Studies 2018, 41(14), 2426-2444.
  • McAreavey R. . Population, Space and Place 2017, 23(6), e2044.
  • Shortall S, McAreavey R. . Social Sciences 2017, 6(2), 49.
  • Mayes R, McAreavey R. . Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education 2017, 38(3), 416-428.
  • Doyle C, McAreavey R. . Irish Geography 2016, 49(1).
  • Doyle C, McAreavey R. . City: analysis of urban trends, culture, theory, policy, action 2014, 8(4-5), 466-475.
  • McAreavey R. . Sociologia Ruralis 2014, 54(1), 71-93.
  • McAreavey R. . Sociologia Ruralis 2012, 52(4), 488-507.

• Authored Book

  • McAreavey R. . London: Routledge, 2017.

• Book Chapters

  • McAreavey R. . In: Attorp A; Heron S; McAreavey R, ed. Rural governance in the UK: towards a sustainable and equitable society. London: Routledge/Taylor and Francis, 2023, pp.12-33.
  • Lin W, McAreavey R. . In: The 缅北禁地 Social Geographies Collective, ed. Social Geographies: An Introduction. London: Rowman and Littlefield, 2021, pp.106-105.
  • Najib K, Finlay R. . In: Authored by the The 缅北禁地 Social Geographies Collective and edited by Rachel Pain and Peter Hopkins, ed. Social Geographies: An Introduction. London: Rowman & Littlefield, 2021.
  • McAreavey R. . In: Jeffrey H. Cohen and Ibrahim Sirkeci, ed. Handbook of Culture and Migration. Edward Elgar, 2021, pp.54-67.
  • McAreavey R. . In: Banksi, J, ed. Routledge International Handbook of Small Towns. Routledge, 2021, pp.296-309.
  • Pande R. . In: The 缅北禁地 Social Geographies Collective; Pain, R; Hopkins, P, ed. Social Geographies An Introduction. London: Rowman and Littlefield International, 2020, pp.133-142.
  • Jones C, Richardson MJ. . In: The 缅北禁地 Social Geographies Collective, ed. Social Geographies: An Introduction. London: Rowman & Littlefield, 2020, pp.79-88.
  • Richardson M, Pande R, Ridley G. . In: The 缅北禁地 Social Geographies Collective; Pain, R; Hopkins, P, ed. Social Geographies An Introduction. London: Rowman and Littlefield International, 2020, pp.162-172.
  • Hopkins P, Pain R. . In: The 缅北禁地 Social Geographies Collective, ed. Social Geographies: An Introduction. London: Rowman and Littlefield, 2020, pp.192-199.
  • McAreavey R. . In: Gaisbauer, HP; Schweiger, G; Sedmak, C, ed. Absolute Poverty in Europe: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on a Hidden Phenomenon. Bristol: The Policy Press, 2019, pp.211-228.
  • McAreavey R. . In: Shucksmith, M. & Brown, D. L, ed. Routledge International Handbook of Rural Studies. London and New York: Routledge, 2016, pp.477-494.
  • McAreavey R. . In: Murray, M. McKay, S. and Murtagh, B, ed. A Sense of Place: Multidisciplinary Essays in Honour of Malachy McEldowney. Belfast, UK: Institute Spatial & Environmental Planning, Queen's University Belfast, 2015.
  • McAreavey R. . In: Honohan I; and Rougier N, ed. Tolerance and Diversity in Ireland, North and South. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2015, pp.114-134.

• Edited Books

  • Attorp A, Heron S, McAreavey R, ed. . London: Routledge/Taylor&Francis, 2023.
  • Hopkins P, 缅北禁地 Social Geographies Collective, Pain R, Shaw R, Gao Q, Bonnett A, Jones C, Richardson M, Rzedzian S, Benwell MC, Lin W, McAreavey R, Stenning A, Blazek M, Pande R, Najib K, Finlay R, Nayak A, Ridley G, Mearns G, Bonner-Thompson C, McLaughlin J, Boussalem A, Iqbal N, Heslop J, Jarvis H, Burrows R, Bambra C, Copeland A, Tate S, Campbell E, Thompson M, James A, Raynor R, Cunningham N, Powells G, Herbert J, Hocknell S, ed. . London, UK: Rowman and Littlefield, 2021.

• Editorials

  • Arora-Jonsson S, McAreavey R, Waldenstrom C, Stiernstrom A, Sandstrom E, Asztalos Morell I, Kuns B, Gonzalez-Hidalgo M, Cras P, Alarcon-Ferrari C. . Sociologia Ruralis 2023, 63(3), 379-389.
  • McAreavey R, Argent N. . Journal of Rural Studies 2018, 64, 148-152.

• Online Publication

  • McAreavey R. . Sage Publications Ltd, 2014. Available at: .

• Reports

  • McAreavey R, Choudhary S, Obayi R, Attorp A, Barbulescu R, Martinez-Perez A, Nayak R. . York: Food Standards Agency, 2023. FS430887.
  • McAreavey R. . Cookstown, Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Rural Community Network and Northern Ireland Rural Women's Network, 2022.
  • Creamer C, Garod G, Jack C, Liddon A, McAreavey R, Meredith D, Sherry E, Shortall S, Shuttleworth I, Wallace M. . Centre for Rural Economy, 缅北禁地, 2017.
  • Irwin J, McAreavey R, Murphy N. The Social and Economic Mobility of Ethnic Minority Communities in Northern Ireland. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2014. In Preparation.
  • Wallace A, McAreavey R, Atkin K. Poverty and Ethnicity in Northern Ireland. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2013. In Preparation.