Surviving or Belonging? A Typology of Refugee Resettlement Programs

• In Event: Refugee Politics, Human Rights, and International Norms

Abstract

In response to staggering global numbers of displaced persons, more countries are beginning to take on the responsibility of resettling refugees. More than 30% of resettlement countries started resettling refugees only in the last decade, and programs differ markedly even among countries that have similar political and economic contexts. Existing scholarship has yet to provide a global comparison of resettlement policies. To address this gap, I explore variation in state policies for refugee resettlement using a novel typology of supports provided. The scope of the project includes resettlement programs in 26 countries that host 99.9% of all resettled refugees, from 1951-present.
This analysis systematically compares resettlement policies across all countries that have resettled refugees for at least five years and expands existing conceptualizations of resettlement policy by contributing a novel typology of resettlement supports. Existing scholarship often compares resettlement experiences among a small number of cases (such as the US, Canada, and Australia). Using a broader scope of countries, I analyze the availability and accessibility of supports provided by each state. I propose four different “types” of resettlement programs: Refugee-led, Assimilation, Self-sufficiency, and Hands-Off. The typology captures the broad range of resettlement programs and levels of state investment to support newly arrived refugees.
This inquiry into the resettlement services has important implications for scholarship on national priorities for how to incorporate newly arrived persons into the culture and society. Unlike most migration policy that is geared toward temporary migrants, refugee resettlement policies reflect intentional state goals for permanent belonging. Resettlement policies reflect foundational characteristics of the host states: how a state conceptualizes who belongs, how newcomers participate in society, and what services are deemed essential. Exploring variation in resettlement policies can improve understanding of national priorities, especially in countries where resettlement programs are relatively recent or being developed.
The paper is part of a larger multi-method research agenda, building from this medium-N qualitative analysis and employing in-depth case studies and large-N quantitative panel data analysis. In subsequent analyses, I examine the root causes of variation in resettlement policy and the mechanisms through which these variables influence the policy-making process. Existing scholarship has yet to apply these concepts to a broad cross-country analysis of resettlement policy. The findings offer new theoretical insights into the policymaking process and the influence of distinct country-level characteristics, including welfare regimes, aid policy approaches, and domestic political pressures. Given the global context of increased forced displacement and growing resettlement efforts, it is timely to consider how policymakers navigate conflicting political pressures and existing aid structures.
Finally, this analysis considers the experience of refugees as they navigate the complicated system of resettlement and integration into new countries. By the time that refugees are resettled, they have experienced years of prolonged persecution, human rights abuses, and insecurity during displacement. Resettlement offers a rare opportunity for people to build new lives, relationships, and communities. This can be a hopeful but also a painful and difficult process, as resettlement essentially a process of starting over. The supports and services offered by host states are vital to help refugees acclimate, gain necessary skills, and participate in their new communities. This analysis sheds light on the different experiences and opportunities offered to refugees and provides the tools for future evaluation of the effectiveness of resettlement programs and practices.

Author

• Grace Benson, American University