Robert Larruina is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Organization Sciences at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. His research explores the intersections of forced displacement, crisis governance, and environmental and climate degradation, with a particular focus on how collaborations—or their absence—among societal actors shape societies’ capacity to adapt or transform.
Robert is especially interested in the social dynamics that produce and distribute power among those affected by environmental and climate degradation, and how these dynamics influence their capacity and (un)willingness to move. He examines the role of different systems of knowledge in preventing, alleviating, or addressing climate-related mobilities.
In the Dutch context, his work investigates disaster preparedness and resilience mechanisms among marginalized groups.
He is actively involved in research projects on meaningful refugee integration in the Netherlands, including studies on LGBTQIA+ refugee experiences and the challenges and opportunities for migrants entering the care sector.
Previously, Robert served as an associated researcher and work package leader in the H2020 project LINKS: Strengthening links between technologies and society for European disaster resilience, where he focused on vulnerability, diversity, and the role of civil society organizations in improving crisis responses.
Robert’s PhD research examined organizational dynamics in refugee reception and integration in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2021. His work analyzed interactions among governmental organizations, civil society actors (sporadic, emergent, or established), and volunteers, as well as the role of refugees themselves in processes that claim to receive, integrate, and include them in Dutch society.
