Sierra Lamb

Date of Award

2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hicks, Barbara

Area of Concentration

International and Area Studies with Psychology

Abstract

The trend of international refugee crises lasting longer and longer leads to additional concerns and strains for host countries. Not only that, but long-term refugeehood creates continued dependence on the host nation and bars access to most durable solutions. One way to move from dependency to self-sufficiency for these refugees is to obtain a legal status that allows them to engage with their host society in a meaningful way. This study posits that the status of protracted refugees in a host state is to some degree dependent on the origins of the crisis (ethnic cleansing versus civil war) and on the presence of national groups in the host country of similar ethnicity to those fleeing the crisis. In addition, emphasis on security issues affects the status and rights of refugees as well. Four country cases were selected based on these criteria to better illuminate these potential differences; all are neighboring states to the country of origin and major refugee host states. Palestinians in Jordan and Rohingya in Bangladesh were cases of home country ethnic cleansing, while Sri Lankan Tamils in India and Somali in Kenya were cases of civil war. Both Palestinians and Tamils shared strong ethnic connections to host country national groups. Cases of origin state ethnic cleansing showcased larger central government sympathy than cases of civil war. Those country cases with strong ethnic connections had more access to aid, sympathy, certain privileges, and, in one case (West Bank Palestinians), citizenship status than their counterparts. Nevertheless, in all countries selected, security concerns trumped rights and privileges, specifically the right to move and the right to find employment. The primary method of limiting these rights was through the creation and maintenance of refugee camps, which provide ease of aid access and the official legality of a refugee label in exchange for an inability to leave (often not by choice of the refugee). The camp itself also came to light as a security concern. By denying refugees a legal status beyond refugeehood and the ability to leave camps, the host country governments create perpetual security issues for themselves.

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