Protracted displacement and solutions to displacement:: Listening to displaced persons (refugees and IDPS) in Ghana and Sri Lanka

This thesis consists of a comprehensive overview and a compilation of three articles. The thesis studies the extent of displaced persons' inclusion in, and policy articulations about, resolving their protracted displacement (PD). Specifically, it explores the perceptions of Liberian refugees in Ghana and Tamil IDPs in Sri Lanka) respectively, about the solutions they consider viable in addressing their PD. It examines some policy articulations and practices around displaced persons' inclusion, and the ways in which these enable and/or constrain the latter. It also aassesses the ways in which humanitarian interventions are addressing (or not) the concerns of displaced persons. Though not dealt with on a comparative basis, both displacement situations offer complementary and contrasting insights into practices around the search for solutions, and the extent of inclusion of displaced persons' views. Part one comprises of the introduction; the background to the study areas; the methodology, methods employed and reflections on the position of the researcher's in the research process; the theoretical and conceptual perspectives; and the final conclusions. The introduction problematises protracted displacement and the search for solutions to it, and outlines the main objectives and questions of the study among other issues of relevance. Various approaches to ethnography, on a short and long-term basis, provide a means of studying the subjective perceptions of different actors and engaging with displaced persons' views. Eclectic theoretical and conceptual insights are drawn from actor-oriented perspectives and the socio-spatial production of space. They help research certain constructions around territory, nation-state and home in the context of displaced persons' rights. The final section synthesizes the articles in relation to the overview, and offers some concluding reflections and lessons learnt from the research endeavour. Part two consists of three articles. The first and third articles, respectively, explore IDPs' and refugees' views about the solutions implemented on their behalf as well as their conceptions about home. Their views are counter-posed to dominant government, implementing agencies' constructions and practices around the right to return and solutions to displacement. The second article discusses the challenges of implementing humanitarian policies on behalf of displaced persons, and serves as a contextual and conceptual backdrop that links the two articles