Riwan Bellour

DPhil Research Topic

Algerian Migration and Protection in Ottoman Tunisia: between Cross-imperial Dynamics and Legal Pluralism

My doctoral research examines the movements, legal statuses, daily experiences, and political imaginaries of Algerian families and individuals who settled in Ottoman Tunisia in the nineteenth century. The project specifically analyzes how these migrants navigated intersecting legal and political systems, and the strategies they used to integrate into Ottoman Tunisian society.

Engaging with scholarship in migration, legal, and social history, my research centers on the voices and negotiations of non-elite actors who traversed imperial boundaries. More broadly, my thesis contributes to contemporary debates on mobility and empire,  providing insight into how mobile communities influenced both Ottoman and French governance. Ultimately, my work advances new perspectives on the agency of mobile populations and their role in transforming imperial rule and regional political dynamics.

I hold an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from King’s College London and a Master’s in Transnational History from the École Normale Supérieure, Paris.

Supervisor: Natalya Vince