07 August 2007

Anthropological Approaches to Forced Migration

The Journal of Humanitarian Assistance just published an article entitled "Toward an Anthropology of Humanitarianism." In his essay, the author reviews research that stems from:

1) the work of historians writing on the origins of contemporary humanitarianism; 2) works explicitly addressing humanitarianism from the perspectives of policy and journalism; 3) relevant works from the anthropology of development; 4) writings on the issue of refugees. These divisions are based on topic rather than position, as each contains divergent and sometimes conflicting perspectives and approaches. In conclusion, I present emerging works on humanitarianism and biopolitics by anthropologists and other social scientists [emphasis added].

Anthropologists have long studied and written about forced migraton issues. Richard Black, in his analysis of articles published in the Journal of Refugee Studies, found that anthropologists as a group were the second largest contributor to the journal, after political scientists. They are particularly active in the study of development-induced displacement.

For an introduction to the anthropological perspective on forced migration, here are a few sample references:

- Colson, Elizabeth, "Forced Migration and the Anthropological Response," Journal of Refugee Studies, vol. 16, no. 1 (2003) [abstract]

- Eastmond, Marita, "Refugees in Anthropology," International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (Elsevier, 2001) [abstract]

- Lubkemann, Stephen C., "Refugees: Worldwide Displacement and International Response," AnthroNotes, vol. 23, no. 2 (Fall 2002), pp. 1-10 [text]

Further references can be found via the Refugee Studies Centre library catalogue. Search on "anthropology" or "anthropological" for relevant references.

Posted in Publications.

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