Doctoral Dissertation Research: Displacement and Consent in Voluntary Urban Resettlement of Internally Displaced People

本博士论文研究项目考察了围绕国内流离失所者（IDPs）重新安置的动态，重点是了解自愿在城市地方重新安置的同意。国内流离失所者是由许多行动造成的，包括为了开采资源而被迫离开土地，大多数重新安置是被迫的，并安置在其他农村空间。这个项目着眼于自愿重新安置到城市地区。方法包括混合方法（参与式观察、调查和访谈）和参与式电影制作的结合。通过深入研究复杂的力量，这项研究将有助于对经济发展有限的地区发生的当代社会变革有细致入微的理解。研究人员与当地组织合作，作为博士论文研究进步奖，该奖项将为有前途的学生提供支持，使他们能够建立强大的独立研究生涯。被重新安置的人口通常面临巨大的社会、心理和经济困难，研究重新安置政策和结果的科学家已经广泛记录了这一点。近几十年来，为了大规模农业和自然资源生产（如采矿、石油开采、水电开发）而征用农村土地，加速了许多地方的人类流离失所和重新安置。研究国内流离失所者（IDPs）的科学家仍然主要关注强迫安置，通常是农村地区，而不是自愿安置到城市地区。这项研究将阐明影响对城市重新安置的同意的因素。它将考虑影响国内流离失所者同意的社会、经济、政治和生态因素。特别是，该研究将调查三大类因素：1)对社区的政治压力；2)农村经济和生态系统存在的压力；3)通过城市安置实现社会流动的愿望。研究方法还采用了一种创新的社会研究方法，在参与的国内流离失所者中实施参与式电影制作。虽然这个博士论文研究项目将侧重于厄瓜多尔的案例材料，但这项研究将为包括美国在内的许多其他国家重新安置国内流离失所者提供新的见解和方法。

This doctoral dissertation research project examines the dynamics surrounding the resettlement of internally displaced people (IDPs), focusing on understanding the consent to voluntarily resettle in urban places. IDPs result from many actions including forced removal from land for the extraction of resources, and most resettlement is forced and into alternative rural spaces. This project looks at voluntary resettlement into urban areas. Methods consist of a combination of mixed-methods (participant observation, surveys and interviews) as well as participatory film-making. By examining complex forces in-depth this research will contribute a nuanced understanding of contemporary social transformations taking place in locations with limited economic development. The investigators with work collaboratively with local organizations and as a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.Resettled populations have typically faced enormous social, psychological, and economic hardships, which has been widely documented by scientists studying resettlement policies and outcomes. In recent decades, rural land acquisition for large-scale agriculture and natural resource production (e.g. mining, oil extraction, hydroelectric development) have accelerated human displacement and resettlement in many locations. Scientists who study internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to focus primarily on forced resettlement, usually to rural areas, rather than voluntary resettlement programs to urban areas. This study will shed light on the factors that shape consent to urban resettlement. It will account for social, economic, political, and ecological factors shaping IDP consent. In particular, the study will investigate three broad sets of factors: 1) political pressures on communities; 2) pre-existing pressures on rural economies and eco-systems; and 3) desires for social mobility through urban resettlement. The research methodology also features an innovative approach to social research by implementing participatory filmmaking among participating IDPs. Although this doctoral dissertation research project will focus on case material from Ecuador, the research will provide new insights and approaches for dealing with the resettlement of internally displaced people in many other countries, including the United States.