Refugee Studies: Interdisciplinarity and Agency in Contemporary Humanitarian Crises, 1930s-2020s

Abstract

Abstract

Refugee studies is a burgeoning research area that, over the years, has captured the attention of different disciplines: from law to sociology, from anthropology to political science, from psychology to political philosophy and international relations theory. Lately, new works that examine the topic from a historical perspective have emerged, together with new investigations focusing on specific categories of refugees, which return a more multifaceted and in-depth picture of forced migrations than in the past. This essay constitutes an updated reference text for those approaching the study of forced displacements. It reconstructs the evolution of refugee studies from its origins to the present day, taking into account the numerous and most recent academic contributions on the subject. It also reflects on the future developments of this multidisciplinary research field, which brings together theoretical investigation and political practice in order to shed light on the refugee issue and provide timely and effective answers to the problems of the world’s forcibly displaced population.

Keywords

Refugee, forced displacement, flight, resettlement, refugee studies, multi- and interdisciplinary research