1. Refugee Studies Centre
An introduction

2. Overview
Studying in Oxford
About the Refugee Studies Centre
Refugee and Forced Migration Studies

3. Studying in Oxford
9,621
postgraduates
11,752
undergraduates

4. Studying in Oxford
45%
postgraduates

5. Studying in Oxford
61%
non-UK

6. Studying in Oxford

7. Studying in Oxford

8. Refugee Studies Centre
Founded by Barbara Harrell-Bond in 1982, the RSC
pioneered a new field of academic study:
Causes and consequences of forced migration
Legal and normative framework
Humanitarian response
Mission: To build knowledge and understanding of the causes and
effects of forced migration in order to help improve the lives of some of
the world’s most vulnerable people.

9. RSC timeline
1982 1990
Founded by Barbara First Summer School
Harrell-Bond
1980 1985 1990 1995
1987
Foundation Course in Refugee Studies
established
Refugee Participation Network (RPN)
Newsletter launched

10. RSC timeline
2002 2012
Awarded Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Secured fourth permanent post, a
Education in recognition of the RSC’s pioneering research and Lecturership in International
innovative training programmes Human Rights and Refugee Law
2000 2005 2010
1998
RPN Newsletter re-launched as
Forced Migration Review
Master’s in Forced Migration offered
for the first time replacing
Foundation Course

11. RSC activities
The Centre focusses on three interrelated activities:
Research – providing multidisciplinary, independent and critical
scholarship on factors determining and resulting from the forced
displacement of populations
Teaching – supporting and developing the next generation of
scholars and thinkers
Dissemination – promoting influential engagement with a full
range of academics, policymakers and practitioners

12. Research
Emphasising multi-disciplinary and independent thinking and the
centrality of international human rights and refugee law
Creating a body of concepts based on systematic inquiry to
influence academic, policy and practice agendas
Challenging the refugee victim stereotype through the contestation
of passive victimhood and a contemporary focus on rights, resilience
and the agency of refugees
Giving voice to some of most marginalised and rights-deprived
communities in the world
Engaging the international humanitarian community by linking
scholarship to policy and practice and enhancing capacity

13. Current projects
Research projects grouped into three general themes: Drivers,
Governance and Experiences
What drives forced migration and how do the drivers change over
time?
What spaces and opportunities exist for forced migrants to
influence and change the structures that govern them?
How do individuals, groups and communities respond and
adopted to the challenges posed by displacement?
Over 20 current research projects addressing critical refugee and
forced migration issues around the world including environmental
change, conflict and humanitarian response

14. Environmentally displaced people
Led by Professor Roger Zetter and Dr James Morrissey
First phase investigated capacity of national-level legal and normative
frameworks and regional and international legal apparatus that might
apply to displacement in a context of environmental change
Issues were examined in four countries affected by slow-onset climate
change conditions – rising sea levels in Bangladesh and Vietnam, and
desertification in Kenya and Ghana
Second phase aims to detail local level analysis of communities and
households affected by climate and environmental change

15. Mobile peoples and conservation
Led by Professor Dawn Chatty
RSC hosted event in Wadi Dana, Jordan, in 2002 which led to the
Dana Declaration on Mobile Peoples and Conservation
Declaration calls for recognition of the problems facing mobile
peoples, the main barriers to improving their productivity and
wellbeing and the lessons that can be learned from their way of life
Became part of the Durban Accord in 2003
Endorsed by the world conservation body, the International Union for
the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2008
Statement delivered to UN ‘Earth Summit’ in 2012 on behalf of Dana
representatives

16. The liberal state and expulsion of
members
Led by Dr Matthew J Gibney
Explores various incarnations that expulsion power takes in modern
liberal states
Attempts to show how new developments in identity politics and
concerns over crime and terrorism in modern states fuel
contemporary controversy over expulsion
Main foci include: the history of banishment as a precursor of modern
deportation power; denationalisation and the evolution of powers to
strip citizenship in liberal states; and the evolution and legitimacy of
deportation

17. Humanitarian Innovation Project
Led by Dr Alexander Betts with Naohiko Omata (Research Officer),
Louise Bloom (Research Officer) and Mafalda Picarra (Project
Coordinator)
Explores the emerging way in which innovation can be harnessed to
transform humanitarian assistance, particularly in relation to refugee
protection
On a practical level, the project aims to identify ways in which
innovation, technology and the private sector can enhance refugees’
entitlements and opportunities within both emergency settings and
protracted refugee situations
On an academic level, the project aims to conceptualise the changing
relationship between states, markets and international organisations
in humanitarian governance

18. In protracted limbo
Led by Dr Nando Sigona with Dr Elaine Chase and Professor Robert
Walker (Social Policy and Intervention)
Explores gaps in theory and knowledge surrounding youth migration
in the EU
Aims to identify the implications for contemporary national and
international policy governing the treatment and support of young
people subject to immigration control across the EU
Majority of young adults who previously entered Europe as
independent migrant children are denied refugee status or
humanitarian protection but afforded time-limited welfare support
Once adults many end up in limbo – uncertain of whether or not they
will be able to remain in the country of immigration/asylum and for
how long

19. Faith-based humanitarianism in
contexts of forced migration
Led by Dr Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh
Explores the motivations and practices of faith communities and
faith-based organisations (FBOs) in their response to forced
displacement around the world
Although FBOs are often at the forefront of humanitarian responses,
little is known about the scale, nature and impacts of their
interventions.
Currently collaborating with a ‘Joint Learning Initiative’ on ‘Local faith
communities and resilience’ involving academics, policy makers,
practitioners and representatives from a diversity of faith
communities to explore the nature and impacts of initiatives
developed by local faith communities in humanitarian situations

20. Teaching
MSc Refugee and Forced Migration Studies – interdisciplinary
degree exploring forced migration through a thesis, a group research
essay, and a range of required courses
DPhil – currently over 20 doctoral students carrying out research
under the supervision of RSC staff
International Summer School in Forced Migration – fosters
dialogue between academics, practitioners and policymakers working
to improve the situation of refugees and other forced migrants
Workshops – brings together a range of researchers, policy makers
and practitioners to discuss emerging themes and issues
RSC Library – RSC collections at the SSL form the largest collection
of materials worldwide relating to the causes, experiences,
consequences and implications of forced displacement

21. Forced Migration Review
Magazine published by the Refugee
Studies Centre
Most widely read publication on forced
migration
Available in English, French, Spanish
and Arabic, and free of charge in print
and online
“… sharp analysis of refugee-related issues in an attractive and
accessible format.”
“Essential reading for all practitioners, researchers and
policymakers working in the area of forced migration.”

22. Policy Briefings and
Working Papers
Policy Briefings (2-3/year)
Provide policy-relevant research
findings in an accessible format
Seek to stimulate debates on issues of
key interest to researchers, policy
makers and practitioners
Working Papers (8-10/year)
Aid the rapid distribution of work in
progress, research findings and special
lectures
Students who receive a distinction for
their thesis given opportunity to publish
in the series

23. Forced Migration Online
Digital Library contains over 5,500 full-text documents including grey
literature from the RSC library which can be searched and downloaded
Regional/thematic research guides provide concise studies written by
experts in the field
Resource pages pinpoint key resources from all areas of the site
relating to major issues
Multimedia content including image library, videos and podcasts

24. RSC website and social media
RSC website – find out latest news as well as information about staff,
research projects, events and publications
Social media – Facebook and Twitter profiles so you don’t miss the
latest news and updates
Podcasts – RSC Public Seminars and lectures are recorded and made
available as podcasts, accessible on FMO and the RSC website as well
as iTunes U and podcasts.ox.ac.uk (search: ‘refugee studies centre’)
Videos – RSC interviews and other videos on Vimeo and YouTube
channels

25. Why study refugees and
forced migration?
UNHCR Persons of concern 39.9m
Year Millions
World-wide total
1975 2.5
1994 27
displaced
Results from conflict, repressive
1999 22 regimes, environmental change
2009 36 and development policies.
2010 34
Raises fundamental challenges for
the international order.
2011 35** Requires informed reflection on
**IDPs 15.5 historical, global and human
Stateless 3.5 context.
Palestinians 4.9

26. World-wide displacement
UNHCR global distribution of refugees, 2011
Region Millions
Asia and Pacific 3.6
80% remain in region,
Africa 2.7 50% urban, 33%
MENA 1.7 encamped
Europe 1.6 44% or refugees and
Americas 0.8
a/s are under 18
TOTAL 10.4

27. Who is a forced migrant?
UNHCR Definitions Other definitions and
categories
Refugees
UNRWA for Palestinians
Asylum seekers Disaster displacement
IDPs ‘Environmental refugees’
Development induced
People of concern displacement
Stateless persons

28. Brief history
Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 5
1914-1939 Post WW2 1960-1990 1990s late 90s-21c
Emergence of Institutionalisation: Refugees in the End of Cold War Fortress Mentality,
Regime to care for the ‘51 South: Coping and ‘Complex Redefinition:
the displaced Convention, with Crisis, ‘67 Emergencies’ Asylum/migration
Instruments Protocol nexus, managing
migration, the
challenge of protection

29. Contemporary challenges
North South
Globalisation of migration and Internal displacement
asylum
Protracted exile
The demise of the refugee
Peace building/post-conflict Challenge of protection
reconstruction Humanitarian response
Climate change

30. Thank you