Discussion Paper

State fragility as a cause of forced displacement: identifying theoretical channels for empirical research

Martin-Shields, Charles P.
Discussion Paper (30/2017)

Bonn: German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)

ISBN: 978-3-96021-055-9
Preis: 6 €

Our understanding of how state fragility leads to forced displacement remains empirically and theoretically fractured, even as wider research on development and migration has expanded. Forced displacement and mixed migration will increasingly be central to global debates in the coming decades, particularly in fragile and weak states; thus the goal of this Discussion Paper is to provide a theoretical structure for future research on forced displacement and state fragility. To do this, we have developed a theoretical conceptualisation of how state fragility can lead to forced displacement, drawing on a multi-dimensional method for understanding state fragility. When a state is fragile, lacking in administrative, social and security capacity, the population is more likely to be forced to seek safety and economic opportunity elsewhere. One of the main challenges is bringing different fields into a cohesive conversation; issues that will be addressed include what different disciplines aim to measure, potential epistemological problems with assuming a linear relationship between development policy and forced displacement, and normative differences between fields. The outcome is an integrated theoretical analysis of the economic, political, and social drivers of forced displacement in fragile states, focusing on the theoretical causal channels wherein state fragility leads to forced displacement. This can inform new empirical approaches for measuring and analysing the relationship between state fragility and forced displacement, while speaking to practical issues faced by regional and international organisations working in fragile states on forced displacement and migration issues.

Weitere IDOS-Expert*innen zu diesem Thema

Baumann, Max-Otto

Politikwissenschaft 

Berger, Axel

Politikwissenschaft 

Bergmann, Julian

Politikwissenschaft 

Erforth, Benedikt

Politikwissenschaft 

Fiedler, Charlotte

Politikwissenschaftlerin 

Gitt, Florian

Ökonomie 

Goedeking, Nicholas

Vergleichende politische Ökonomie 

Haug, Sebastian

Politikwissenschaft 

Hilbrich, Sören

Ökonomie 

Inacio da Cunha, Marcelo

Wirtschaftswissenschaften, Geographie 

Kachelmann, Matthias

Politikwissenschaft 

Kuhnt, Jana

Entwicklungsökonomin 

Leininger, Julia

Politikwissenschaftlerin 

Li, Hangwei

Politikwissenschaft 

Lorch, Jasmin

Politikwissenschaft 

Morare, Ditebogo Modiegi

Politikwissenschaften 

Mross, Karina

Politikwissenschaftlerin 

Novoselova, Anna

Politikwissenschaften 

Wingens, Christopher

Politikwissenschaftler 

Kontakt

Cornelia Hornschild
Koordinatorin Publikationen

E-Mail Cornelia.Hornschild@idos-research.de
Telefon +49 (0)228 94927-135
Fax +49 (0)228 94927-130

Alexandra Fante
Bibliothekarin/Open Access-Koordinatorin

E-Mail Alexandra.Fante@idos-research.de
Telefon +49 (0)228 94927-321
Fax +49 (0)228 94927-130