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.