Dr Konstantinos Kosmas Gaitis

I have a first degree in Law from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as well as an MSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice (Distinction) and a PhD in Law (Criminology pathway) both obtained from the University of Edinburgh.

My thesis was titled ‘How is human trafficking regulated in the UK? A critical examination of the UK’s anti-trafficking response’.

Overall, I have extensive experience studying and researching crime, justice, human rights and other societal issues. Research interests include: criminological theories (Christie’s ideal victim/offender, Durkheim’s collective effervescence, theories of anomie, critical criminology, zemiology, left and right realism in criminology, social control and classicism in criminology); human trafficking and supply chains; immigration; asylum; smuggling; organised crime; child sexual abuse and exploitation; victimology, victims, trauma and vulnerabilities; human rights; culture wars; multiculturalism; state policymaking; and conflict of rights.

I have a strong interest in the interplay between Criminology/Criminal Justice and International Relations, Human Rights, Criminal Law, International Law (particularly International Criminal Law), Social Work, Sociology, Social Policy, Politics and Philosophy. I have extensive experience with conducting empirical and theoretical research in Criminology, Criminal Justice and Social Work using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods and with teaching in the above areas.

I work as a Global Data Fellow (Policy & Legal Research) at Childlight Institute (University of Edinburgh), as a Tutor at the University of Edinburgh, while I am also a Scottish Justice Fellow.

Recent Publications

Gaitis, K. K. (2023). ‘Representations of Traffickers in Official UK Discourse: Examining the Least Known Component of the Human Trafficking Equation’. International Journal of Law, Crime and Justice, vol. 74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlcj.2023.100592.

Gaitis, K. K. (2022). ‘Addressing the Trauma of Human Trafficking Victims in the UK’, IRISS. [online]. Available at: https://www.iriss.org.uk/resources/insights/addressing-trauma-human-trafficking-victims-uk.

Gaitis, K. K. (2021). How is Human Trafficking Regulated in the UK? A Critical Examination of the UK’s Anti-Trafficking Response. PhD Thesis. University of Edinburgh. Available at: https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/38089.