X. (Xinyue) Wu

Current Position

PhD Researcher in Sociology
September 2022 – July 2026 (expected)
Supervisors: Prof. Rafael Wittek, Prof. Basak Bilecen

Research Interests

·     Political Sociology & Political Psychology

·     Authoritarian Socialisation & Institutional Legacies

·     Values & Value Orientations

·     Affect, & Emotions

·     Gender & Migration

·     Media & Migration

·     Embodiment & Sensory Anthropology

·     Qualitative Methods

Education

PhD in Sociology
University of Groningen, Netherlands (2022–2026, expected)
Dissertation: Four-paper project investigating how authoritarian socialisation and political legacies shape intra-group relationships, political dispositions, media attitudes, and nationalism among highly skilled Chinese migrants in Germany

PhD in Law (Cultural Anthropology)
Nankai University, China (2017–2021)
Dissertation: Food and Embodied Experiences in the Lens of Time and Space: Based on Transnational Ethnography of Quibei's Chilli Food (Nominated for Best PhD Dissertation)

Visiting PhD Researcher
University of Sydney, Australia (2019–2020)
Gender and Cultural Studies
Supervisor: Prof. Elspeth Probyn

Master of Education (Higher Education)
Yunnan Normal University, China (2006–2009)

Bachelor of Education (Preschool Education)
Shaanxi Normal University, China (2002–2006)

Publications (first- and corresponding-author)

Under Review

Wu, X., Bilecen, B., & Wittek, R. (revising for resubmission). Atomised Community: The Role of Values in Intra-group Relationships among Highly Skilled Chinese Migrants in Germany. Migration Studies.

Wu, X., Bilecen, B., & Wittek, R. (revising for resubmission). Beyond Democratic Exposure: A Cognitive-Motivational-Emotional Analysis of Political Disaffection Among Highly Skilled Chinese Migrants in Germany. Current Sociology.

In Preparation

Wu, X., Bilecen, B., & Wittek, R. (Manuscript completed, preparing for submission). Media Attitudes Among Highly Skilled Chinese Migrants. Target: The British Journal of Sociology.

Wu, X., Bilecen, B., & Wittek, R. (In progress). Nationalism and Authoritarian Legacies in Transnational Contexts. Target: Sociology.

Conference Presentations

"Atomised Community: The Role of Values in Intra-group Relationships among Highly Skilled Chinese Migrants in Germany"
Annual Meeting of the Dutch Sociological Association (NSV), June 2025

"A Paradigm Shift in Food Anthropology"
SYSU Second International Conference on Food and Culture, April 2018

Upcoming: IMISCOE (International Migration Research Network) Annual Conference, July 2026

Research Grants & Funding

Co-Investigator (2018–2020)
Research on Chinese National Culture and National Identity
Ministry of Education Major Social Science Research Project, China (No. 17JZD043)
Principal Investigator: Prof. Tongkai Yuan

Professional Affiliations

Member, International Sociological Association (ISA), 2024–present
Member, European Sociological Association (ESA), 2024–present
Member, Dutch Sociological Association (NSV), 2024–present
Member, IMISCOE (International Migration Research Network), 2024–present

Research Methods Expertise

Qualitative Methods:
Qualitative Research Design • In-depth Interviewing • Multi-sited Ethnography • Reflexive Thematic Analysis • Discourse Analysis • Comparative Case Study Methods

Software:
NVivo • Atlas.ti

Fieldwork Experience:
Germany (2023) • Australia (2019–2020) • China (2018–2019)

Languages

Chinese (Mandarin): Native
English: Fluent (Academic proficiency)