Mapping Inbetweenness: A Conceptual Model for War-induced Resettlement

Abstract

The policy oriented aspects, some scholars, institutions, and organizations have played a vital role in the study of the nature and sequence of conflict induced internal displacement from different perspectives. However large majority of such studies have confined merely to identify the grievances and agonies of the IDPs, and thereby recommending the relevant authorities to adopt necessary action to resettle such IDPs. In this context my research is going to be somewhat different from the above conventional approach. Hence, the aim of my research is to identify the conflict induced displacement from a perspective of inbetweenness experiencing due to loosing of their fix points by the CIIDPs throughout the different phases of displacement resettlement continuum. The sample (focus groups) of this research is consisting of IDPs belonging to three different ethnicities, located at different geographical areas of the country. Also the duration of their being as IDPs in the camps has also taken into consideration in selection of these focus groups. The qualitative approach, not completely devoid from quantitative methods has been used for the research. The main techniques applied in data collection are consisting of: conducting of in depth discussions, cognitive mapping and observation. The results revealed that CIIDPs were concern of many fix points. There were fix points assigned values of different degrees by the CIIDPs, among them. Also it should be noted that the characteristics of such fix points were also varied from one another. When broken, some of the lost-fix points can of course be re-established, while some others cannot; for instance, a dead child is forever lost a burned down houses may be rebuilt. However, when people flee, most fix-points become fluid, even those that are tied to material goods. Also some of fix points were tangible whereas some were intangible. It was also revealed that under each fix points there were many inbuilt concerned tangible or intangible elements. For an example, if dislocation from the land is considered as losing of a major tangible fix pint by someone, along with that he or she would tend to lose many other spiritual fix points such as the possession, wealth, the collateral value, inheritance, sentimental attachments, social status, human dignity etc. Some loosen fix points such as dead husband may be very valuable for some IDPs while some others not. This of course depend on how far that particular fix point or set of fix points cause to the uncertainty, unstable livelihood and change. Therefore it can be argued that the status of inbetweenness of CIIDPs is characterized by unfixed fix-points, unstable livelihood systems, uncertainty and change, everything essentially determined by factors outside their control. However, the cognition of CIIDPs’ ambitions proved that the existing inbetweenness of IDPs would not be overcome completely, even though they have fully recovered from their loosen fix points that they have undergone due to being IDPs because new fix points need to be established further more. Identification of inbetweenness from the perspective of fix points of the CIIDPs will invariably add a new dimension that would be of immense importance to the policy makers who are currently looking at the issues of IDPs merely as a question of relocation or provision of a shelter.