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Lud­m­ila Bog­dan

Postdoc

Emner
Kvalitativ metode Identitet Sociologi Immigration Køn Minoriteter

Primary research areas

Mi­gra­tion, Dis­course & Power
Ex­am­ines how mi­gra­tion is framed through nar­rat­ives of crisis, il­leg­al­ity, and de­serving­ness, and how these dis­courses shape gov­ernance, policy, and pub­lic per­cep­tion across Europe.
Par­ti­cip­at­ory Mi­gra­tion Re­search
Uses par­ti­cip­at­ory ac­tion re­search to co-pro­duce know­ledge with mi­grants, cen­ter­ing lived ex­per­i­ences and chal­len­ging ex­tract­ive re­search prac­tices in mi­gra­tion stud­ies.
Hu­man Traf­fick­ing & Ex­ploit­a­tion
Fo­cuses on traf­fick­ing net­works, lived ex­per­i­ences of ex­ploit­a­tion, and the in­ter­sec­tion of mi­gra­tion, gender, and crim­in­al justice re­sponses.
Hu­man Rights & Mi­gra­tion Gov­ernance
Ex­plores how mi­gra­tion policies im­pact rights, in­clu­sion, and ac­cess to pro­tec­tion, with a fo­cus on de­vel­op­ing more equit­able and rights-based ap­proaches.

Ex­amin­ing mi­gra­tion, dis­course, and so­cial justice

My research examines how migration is framed, governed, and experienced, with a focus on challenging dominant narratives of “crisis,” illegality, and deservingness. I work to shift migration debates by centering the lived experiences and perspectives of migrants, particularly those whose voices are often excluded from policy and public discourse.

Using participatory and qualitative methods, I collaborate with migrants to co-produce knowledge that informs more inclusive and rights-based approaches to migration governance. My work contributes to academic debates while also engaging policymakers, NGOs, and practitioners through applied outputs, training, and dissemination.

I am motivated by the need to address inequalities embedded in migration systems and to develop research that has tangible social impact. My ambition is to contribute to more just and humane migration policies by bridging research, practice, and lived realities.

Se­lec­ted pub­lic­a­tions

Monographs

Bogdan, Ludmila (finished & forthcoming, 2026). Psychology of Traffickers: Ethnographic Insights from Romanian and Moldovan Prisons. Routledge.

Articles in Journals

Bogdan, Ludmila (2026). “Strings Attached: How Donor Agendas Shape Anti-Trafficking Policy and Practice in Moldova.” International Migration.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2025). "Who Are Human Traffickers? Evidence from Romanian Prisons." Comparative Migration Studies.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2025). "Undocumented and Queer Adults." Emerging Adulthood.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2025). "Transnational Mobility in Moldova: Socioeconomic Triggers for Migration Aspirations." International Migration.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2024). "The Exodus of Moldova: Understanding the Migration Dilemma." International Migration Review.

Bogdan, Ludmila, Botelho, Flora, & Power, Séamus A. (2024). "Analyzing Anti-Polygamy Legislation in the 19th Century United States." Law, Society, and Humanities.

Botelho, Flora, Bogdan, Ludmila, & Power, Séamus A. (2024). "Polygyny in Denmark: A Study of the Instrumentalization of Cultural Differences in Immigration Policies." Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2024). "Immobility in Moldova: Beyond the Migration Paradigm." International Migration.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2023). "Navigating Migration Risks: The Role of Risk Perception and Information Engagement Among Moldovans." Journal on Migration and Human Security.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2021). "Human Trafficking, Information Campaigns, and Public Awareness in Moldova: Why Do Anti-Trafficking Organizations Operate Under Inaccurate Assumptions?" International Migration.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2020). "Public Perception of Human Trafficking: A Case Study of Moldova." Comparative Migration Studies.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2018). "Who Wants to Leave? Migration Motivations in Moldova." Journal of Identity and Migration Studies.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2018). "Human Trafficking in Moldova: A Literature Review." Journal of Human Trafficking.

Policy Publications

Bogdan, Ludmila (2025). Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants in Nepal. UNODC Policy Report.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2025). Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants in the Maldives. UNODC Policy Report.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2021). "The Role of Bias in the Identification of Victims of Trafficking in Human Beings in the EU." Policy Report, ICMPD, November Issue.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2019). "Ausbeutung und Menschenhandel: Es geht nicht immer um Sexarbeit." Wissenschaft: Geschichte Österreichs, Der Standard newspaper.

Bogdan, Ludmila (2013). "Human Trafficking." Conference of Undergraduate Research Proceedings, University of North Carolina at Asheville Press.

Outside activities

Volunteer – Caritas Denmark , April 2026 –present

Sup­port ser­vices for mi­grants and asylum seekers, in­clud­ing com­mu­nic­a­tion and com­munity as­sist­ance.