Why refugee return is not the solution to displacement crises

The number of refugees worldwide has nearly doubled in the past decade. Amid this rise in forced migration, the humanitarian community touts voluntary repatriation as the preferred solution to displacement crises. States are also pressuring refugees to return. The driving assumption is that refugee return is primarily a logistical obstacle and once refugees return to their home countries, they will resettle peacefully and stay put.

In this talk, Dr Stephanie Schwartz will discuss her research on how refugee return can create new sources of conflict in refugees’ countries of origin, often leading to repeat displacement. The talk will explore what these findings mean for international organisations and governments promoting refugee return as a ‘‘durable solution’’ for displacement crises.

Dr Stephanie Schwartz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of International Relations at LSE. She studies the politics of forced migration, violent conflict, and humanitarian governance. Her current book project, Homeward Bound: Refugee Return and Local Conflict after Civil War, examines how refugee return influences future patterns of conflict and displacement. Other ongoing research focuses on global asylum governance and qualitative research methods. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, US Institute of Peace, and the Columbia Global Policy Initiative.

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