Forced Migration: Overview of Current Trends and Future Directions

Abstract

This paper provides a strategic overview of current developments in forced migration research and policy interests, concentrating on those areas in which offers its particular expertise to policymakers. It maps current research areas and policy trends as of the end of 2016, as well as identifying areas likely to demand attention in the future. The paper draws upon a range of materials published by relevant policy organisations and international institutions. These documents have helped to map out these organisations' particular strategic interests in forced migration research. It has also been influenced by recent debates that have taken place within the academic field of forced migration studies regarding the nature and scope of ‘forced migration studies’ as well as the outcomes of recent policy-related processes. It addition this paper has benefited greatly from the assessments of researchers on the likely trends in forced migration research in their own areas of expertise. It has also received valuable input from a number of policymakers and researchers notably in identifying areas of on-going research of particular relevance to policymakers. The document details potential avenues for future collaborations between an academic research institution and international organisations and governments with an interest in addressing forced migration. However given the well-documented difficulty of encouraging fruitful connections between policy and research, this paper should be seen as a first step of engagement in a much longer-term, multi-faceted process of developing useful relationships between forced migration research and policy agendas.