While reading an article about the influx of Congolese refugees pouring into Uganda I was jolted back to my studies at Seton Hall. Particularly my thesis regarding how refugees find themselves in a position where fleeing is their only choice and the impact such movements have on the international community as a whole. So here are some of my thoughts on African refugees followed by the article which sparked my reminiscing
The study of refugee flows by scholars can be categorized into two unique groups. The first group looks at the effects of mass flight on the host nation and/or the international community. The second group of literature looks at potential factors, which contribute to formation of refugee movements. Affects of refugee movements on the international community is vitally important to the flow of refugees as it is the reason why refugees are a source of global concern.
Resource scarcity and national security are the two most notable effects refugees have on host countries and the international community, more generally. The availability of land, water and capital are a huge concern to host nations[1]. Particularly in Africa , host governments are to stable enough to deal effectively with the massive influx of refugees. Governments are left with more questions than answers, and typically struggle to supply both refugees and its constituents the resources needed to survive. Unfortunately, the resource dilemma is the primary cause of the security issues related to the movements of populations across borders. The prospect of terrorist refugees, and/or an outbreak of war due to refugee presence in the host nation have put the study of refugees at the forefront of the international agenda. Political leaders seek to understand what factors contribute to the flow of refugees so that they may mitigate the negative effects of refugees.
Literature focusing on trying to explain the cause of refugee population formation generally accepts the linkage between violence and flight. With this linkage, understood scholars then try to explain the source of the violence or how refugee producing violence is unique from non-refugee producing violence.
Iqbal provides an exceptional foundation to the study of refugee populations; he explains the formation of refugee movements as a function of violent conflicts within the borders of a nation-state. War is a chief cause of refugee flows worldwide, with millions fleeing violent conflicts for fear of losing one’s life, well-being, or freedom due to political oppression.[2] Bariagaber, a leading scholar in this field, spends a substantial amount of time analyzing the linkage between political violence and refugees. This correlation is clearly visible in the fact that between 1972 and 1992 the number of African refugees increased by a shocking 321%.[3] From this point—having accepted the violence link—scholars move forward to evaluate the specifics of refugee producing violence.
Abdullah for example, looks to economics to explain the conditions, which create a violent enough environment to facilitate mass flight of individuals across national borders. Utilizing the conflict in Sierra Leone, he draws a connection between economic strife among young underemployed men and the outbreak of devastatingly violent civil war.[4] Apart from domestic factors in the account of refugee movements, some scholarship looks to international factors to explain the crisis. Authors such as Anthony, and Newbury, look at arbitrary borders erected as byproduct of colonization and the subsequent irredentism and nationalism, to explain the resulting—refugee producing—border disputes.[5],[6]
Zolberg et.al offers a new perspective on international factors, which contribute to refugee movements. The conceptualization of a global community depicts the specific role that international actors play in domestic conflicts. Particularly, how third party intervention can intensify the effects of civil war. The authors argue that “Direct military intervention by external actors … [cause people to leave], but with greater intensity because they provide the antagonists with additional firepower.”[7]
[1] Rogge, J. (1981). "Africa 's Resettlement Strategies." International Migration Review 15: 195-212.
[2] Iqbal, Z. (2007). "The Geo-Politics of Forced Migration in Africa , 1992-2001." Conflict Management and Peace Science 24: 105-119.
[3] Bariagaber, A. (1995). Linking political violence and refugee situations in the Horn of Africa : an empirical approach. International Organization For Migration Quarterly , 33(2), 201-234.
[4] Abdullah, I. (1998). "Bush Path to Destruction: The Origin and Character of the Revolutionary United Front/ Sierra Leone " Journal of Modern African Studies 36: 203-235.
[5] Anthony, C. (1991). "Refugee Crisis: State Building in Historical Perspective." International Migration Review 25: 574-591.
[6] Newbury, D. (1997). "Irredentist Rwanda: Ethnic and Territorial Frontiers in Central Africa " Africa Today 44: 211-222.
[7] Zolberg, A., A. Suhrke, et al. (1986). "International Factors in the Formation of Refugee Movements." International Migration Review 20: 151-169.
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