Abstract

There is growing political concern about the increasing numbers of people displaced both within the borders of their countries and internationally. This volume explores the interrelated drivers of contemporary global displacement with a particular focus on low-level conflict, climatic and environmental change and infrastructure development. The authors examine the governance of global displacement assessing the protection needs and responses of national governments and the international community. It further considers options for improving the humanitarian and political management of this growing problem.

Christopher McDowell is a political anthropologist specialising in population displacement, forced migration and involuntary resettlement in the developing world. He has held research and teaching positions at Oxford University’s Refugee Studies Programme, Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University, Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and King’s College London. He has undertaken consultancy and advisory work for UN agencies, governments, development banks and NGOs and is currently a Reader in International Politics at City University London.

Gareth Morrell is a Research Director at the National Centre for Social Research, London, directing a range of social policy research projects for government departments and public bodies. He has previously held a Senior Researcher position at the Information Centre about Asylum and Refugees, City University London, where he conducted original research on asylum, refugees and community cohesion in the UK and contributed to journal articles on development and displacement and the EU asylum system.