Date

12-14-2017

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The displacement of over five million Syrian refugees in the past six years has brought much needed attention to issues of forced migration. Today, the majority of the world’s refugees and internally displaced reside in urban areas of middle to low-income states, particularly in Asia and Africa. There is, however, a significant gap in research on self-settled refugees in the Middle East and their integration into host countries. In addition, much of the literature that does exist focuses on policies regarding labor policies yet ignores housing and settlement pattern issues and its impact on integration and community growth. This research aims to provide a historically contextualized analysis of policies’—specifically housing and employment’s—impact on integration within Jordan. The research includes an analysis based on the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) in conjunction with an analysis of labor market and housing integration. This research finds the historical context and institutional barriers for refugees have led to negative refugee integration outcomes. Syrian refugees in Jordan have been unable to develop ethnic communities that would facilitate social mobility and future spatial integration. The paper concludes by suggesting characteristics of an improved refugee policy regime globally.

Department

Political Science and Sociology

Thesis Comittee

Colby King (Thesis Director)

Melinda Tarsi (Thesis Director)

Walter F. Carroll

Copyright and Permissions

Original document was submitted as an Honors Program requirement. Copyright is held by the author.

Share

COinS