Forced displacement, social cohesion, and the state: Evidence from eight new studies

Millions of people around the world are forcibly displaced. One consequence of displacement is that it brings large numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons into contact with members of ‘host’ communities with whom they might otherwise have little opportunity to interact. Such contact has the capacity to transform social and economic life among both host communities and forcibly displaced persons, yet we have relatively scant evidence of how communities change in response to displacement. In this Special Issue Introductory Essay, we provide an overview of forced displacement as a phenomenon and review the state of knowledge on displacement and social cohesion. We then synthesize findings from nine new studies included in this issue, which bring forth new evidence from over 30 countries across the globe. We conclude with implications for policy and development efforts.