JBS Vol 12. Num 2. 2010 - The Dynamics of Refugee-Related Violence in South Asia

This paper assesses the proclivity towards refugee-related violence in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh using an original dataset. It shows that the host’s attitude towards refugees depends on local factors such as how long refugees are expected to stay, the rate of inflow, its control of camps, as well as on international factors such as alliances with the sending country and the presence of international organizations. If the host is aggressive, refugees will retaliate, depending on whether the camps are militarized whereby refugees will have access to weapons and arms. Camp militarization, in turn, depends on factors such as rebel infiltration and the location of camps. Furthermore, the paper finds that alliances between host and sending countries have a pacifying effect on camp militarization, but increase the probability of host aggression. At the same time, while international organizations are able to shape host behavior to a certain extent, they are unable to prevent camp militarization. Such findings have policy implications for hosts, sending states and international organizations. A close examination of the Rohingyas in Bangladesh shows that, indeed, the protracted nature of the refugee crisis, limited international involvement, the antagonistic relationship between the Rohingyas and the Burmese military junta, the placement of camps near the Burmese border, have all served to create a violence-prone environment in the Cox’s Bazaar area. Increased international support and partnership with the Government of Bangladesh in the last few years have, however, served to create safer camps.