Born and raised in Morocco, I was trained as a social anthropologist at the École normale supérieure (Paris) and at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS), where I also completed my PhD in 2021. I have since held postdoctoral positions at KU Leuven and at the Université libre de Bruxelles (FNRS), and was previously a visiting researcher in the Department of Anthropology at UC Berkeley (2019). Since November 2025, I have been working as a Lecturer SNSF Ambizione at the University of Lausanne.
My work revolves around the themes of collective consciousness, salvation, and the feeling of history. I am especially interested in how historical crises come to interplay with religious experience and ideologies within Arab societies and communities.
I have published in 2025 a book (at Éditions Amsterdam) that reflects the French public debate around the 'Muslim Question'. As of my dissertation, it has been published in 2026 (at Éditions du Seuil). Additionally, my scholarship has appeared in various academic journals and edited volumes (see my publications here). It was also featured, discussed, or drawn upon in a wide range of general-interest media outlets, including the BBC, The New York Times, Die Zeit, Le Monde, Mediapart, L’Orient-Le Jour, Al-Jumhuriya, As-Safir al-Arabi, AOC, Enass, Yabiladi, The Guardian, Orient XXI, Courrier International, La Croix etc.
I have two book projects for the years to come. First, a somehow anthropological biography of the poet Mahmood Darwish, that will be published at Éditions La Découverte (2027). Second, a discussion of modern political ideologies in the Arab world through the religious notion of salvation.
In my free time, I like to dream of a life as a musician. You can contact me at hamza.esmili@unil.ch.
My work revolves around the themes of collective consciousness, salvation, and the feeling of history. I am especially interested in how historical crises come to interplay with religious experience and ideologies within Arab societies and communities.
I have published in 2025 a book (at Éditions Amsterdam) that reflects the French public debate around the 'Muslim Question'. As of my dissertation, it has been published in 2026 (at Éditions du Seuil). Additionally, my scholarship has appeared in various academic journals and edited volumes (see my publications here). It was also featured, discussed, or drawn upon in a wide range of general-interest media outlets, including the BBC, The New York Times, Die Zeit, Le Monde, Mediapart, L’Orient-Le Jour, Al-Jumhuriya, As-Safir al-Arabi, AOC, Enass, Yabiladi, The Guardian, Orient XXI, Courrier International, La Croix etc.
I have two book projects for the years to come. First, a somehow anthropological biography of the poet Mahmood Darwish, that will be published at Éditions La Découverte (2027). Second, a discussion of modern political ideologies in the Arab world through the religious notion of salvation.
In my free time, I like to dream of a life as a musician. You can contact me at hamza.esmili@unil.ch.
