Annual Report 2011 - NTNU

2. FOCUS AREAS
2.1 WAR, CONFLICT AND MIGRATION
Rationale and Research Objectives
This focus area actively seeks to build knowledge and new insights on forced migration,
internal displacement, reconstruction after wars and natural disasters and issues relating to
settlement and integration of refugees and asylum seekers. It encourages studies of postcrisis
interaction played by various stakeholders in the transformation and the reestablishment
of order in society, development and reconciliation. Globalisation is seen as a
process of differentiation, in which individuals, groups or geographical areas may end up
being excluded. Marginalisation may take place in the wake of globalisation as income
disparities rise, or when profit‐making and corporate activities take precedence over
communitarian values and outcomes, often leading to exploitation and neglect. Such
processes of globalisation overlap with other transformations taking place in globalizing
societies. Empirical studies on (forced) migration, refugee studies, conflict/peace studies and
studies of post‐crisis reconstruction are undertaken in order to understand how and why
marginalisation of people might occur under conditions of globalization.
The major research objective for this focus area is:
To identify how processes of globalisation relate to conflict/peace and marginalization.
Secondary objectives are:
Understand the effects of increasing globalization on societal risks and human
security.Understand how globalisation impacts conflict‐ridden and marginalised areas
and people.
Understand how globalisation impacts receiving communities and refugee populations.
Understand how migration (forced and not) is an intrinsic part of globalisation, which
determine people’s livelihoods strategies and rights.
Understand the significance of post‐disaster reconstruction and recovery, and how such
interventions relate to globalised discourses, practices, and implementing agencies.
Main Activities 2011
In 2011, the focus area prioritized on publication, project initiation, project finalizing and
student travel grants. Accordingly, the focus area allocated funds on 3 book projects,
supporting 2 PhD candidates for finalizing theses, 2 project initations and 2 on‐going
research project for conducting reseach activities.
The first book project is initiated by Ragnhild Lund and her research collaborative partners of
the ‘Mobile livelihoods’ project, from Thailand, India and China. The planned book aims to
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