What can be done to enhance the participation of refugees and asylum seekers in the political life of their host countries and their countries of origin? What legal and institutional mechanisms are needed to create enabling environments to foster their participation, and which factors might hinder this participation?

This report explores the possible answers to these questions, focusing on refugees from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan and Syria, and their experiences in eight host countries: Germany, Kenya, Lebanon, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, Uganda and the United Kingdom. 

Drawing on a total of 638 in-depth interviews with refugees and key informants, the report provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities related to refugees’ political participation.

Recognizing the dual role of refugees as political actors, the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Democracy project aims to explore the challenges and opportunities related to the political participation of refugees in their host countries and countries of origin.

The Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Democracy project was made possible by funding from the Robert Bosch Stiftung.

Details

Publication date
19 April 2018
Language(s)
English
Author(s)
Armend Bekaj, Lina Antara, Tarig Adan, Jean-Thomas Arrighi de Casanova, Zeina El-Helou, Ezra Mannix, Mukondeleli Mpeiwa, Caleb Otieno Opon, Nora Jasmin Ragab, Shoaib Sharifi and Tigranna Zakaryan
Number of pages
126
ISBN
978-91-7671-148-4 (PDF)
978-91-7671-147-7 (Print)

Contents

Abbreviations
Acknowledgments
Foreword
Preface

Introduction

Part I. Political Participation of Refugees in their Host Countries

1. Formal political participation of refugees in their host countries
2. Non-formal political participation of refugees in their host countries 

Part II. Political Participation of Refugees in their Countries of Origin

3. Formal political participation of refugees in their countries of origin
4. Non-formal political participation of refugees in their countries of origin

Conclusion and recommendations

References

Annex. Glossary of terms

About the authors
About the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Democracy project
About International IDEA 

Case studies 

Political Participation of Refugees: The Case of Afghan and Syrian Refugees in Germany
Nora Jasmin Ragab

Political Participation of Refugees: The Case of Somali and South Sudanese Refugees in Kenya
Caleb Otieno Opon

Political Participation of Refugees: The Case of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon
Zeina El-Helou

Political Participation of Refugees: The Case of Congolese Refugees in South Africa
Mukondeleli Mpeiwa

Political Participation of Refugees: The Case of Syrian and Somali Refugees in Sweden
Tarig Adan

Political Participation of Refugees: The Case of Syrian Refugees in Turkey
Ezra Mannix

Political Participation of Refugees: The Case of South Sudanese and Congolese Refugees in Uganda
Tigranna Zakaryan

Political Participation of Refugees: The Case of Afghan Refugees in the United Kingdom
Shoaib Sharifi

Additional materials 

Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Democracy: Interview Questionnaire


 

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Political Participation of Refugees: Bridging the Gaps

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