Based on extensive empirical research in the Caucasus and the EU, he will explore the crucial nexus between migration, poverty and security. For this purpose, he leads the research activities of WP 3. He also contributes to WP 4 in the form of fieldwork in Abkhazia on religious change, and to WP 6 by heading a team consisting of a PhD student and five students researching regional development in the South Caucasus. He will supervise the two PhD students based in Jena working on issues of migration and land privatisation.