The State of Research on Internal Displacement in Asia

This paper reviews the research landscape on internal displacement in Asia by looking at the growing trends therein in order to assess the state of current scholarship. It begins by mapping trends in conflict-induced, disaster-induced and urban internal displacement and highlighting the importance and absence of reliable numerical data. Then it elaborates on the research concerning (i) the legal and policy framework relating internally displaced persons (IDPs) in this region; (ii) issues in the wider social sciences and humanities and (iii) in the area of health and medicine. While a policy vacuum and geographical diversity heighten the absence of legal accountability, the enquiry into the causes and outcomes of internal displacement in research in the social sciences and humanities highlights the need to focus on the participatory role and agency of the IDPs themselves. The gender dimension and the differentiated impact of internal displacement on women is accentuated and spotlight is also thrown at literature addressing the intersectionality of health and gender when research on the physical and mental health conditions of the IDPs is explored. This paper points towards areas of future research and the countries it broadly covers are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Myanmar, Nepal, Japan and Indonesia.