Research frameworks on return and reintegration

Scholarly approaches to the various components of forced migration, including return and reintegration, have been traditionally dominated by research on the experiences of political refugees. Interest in environmental and development-related displacement has also gained considerable momentum in recent years, as has attention to the mass population movements associated with complex emergencies resulting from a combination of factors. A number of frameworks have been utilized, ranging from legal-normative perspectives to sociocultural approaches. Nevertheless, the impact of return on those displaced, its immediate and long-term consequences on host communities, and the broader sustainability of the return process remain inadequately understood. International agencies have far more experience restoring displaced households to rural lives than to urban settings. Understandings of what constitutes sustainable return often differ markedly among the various stakeholders. Intergenerational differences regarding reintegration needs and aspirations, as well as the desirability of return, warrant more focused consideration than has typically been the case among governmental and international entities working with refugees and migrants.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions