Experiences of Forced Migration: An understanding of coping, adaptation and resilience strategies of the Hazara community in Oxford

Coping, adaptation and resilience strategies of Hazara communities in Britain are one of the research areas that have not been much explored. The purpose of this study is to build knowledge in this domain, particularly focusing on the city of Oxford, by examining the literature on the various mechanisms developed in order to cope, adapt and be resilient to life in a new environment. Using a qualitative paradigm, the primary data was collected mainly through ethnographic methods of participant observation and life history interview. Four main areas of discussion for the study deriving from the theoretical background were social capital (bonding/bridging/linking), transnationalism, religion and refugee community organisations and the research investigated their influence on coping, adaptation and resilience strategies of the Hazara community in Oxford. The findings of the study revealed several mechanisms similar to the ones discussed in the literature and in most cases traditional rituals and rites of passage which provide a sense of belonging during the liminal phase and exile. The two major elements found extremely important were: (a) the significance of social capital, particularly bonding capital being the most prominent one but also linking social capital through their own refugee community organisation and transnational links with other Hazara communities; (b) the impact of Britain’s asylum and immigration policies on the coping, adaptation and resilience strategies of the Hazara community. However, the result on religion draws a contrasting conclusion. Research revealed that the said community did not find religion as an adaptation strategy, rather they were found to be less religious than in their country of origin. In addition, the concept of social capital sheds lights on how communities access and use resources, such as community networks across borders as more than merely tools of survival but also agents of change and social transformation. These tools help in the formation of innovative refugee community organisations and cultural identities, while still managing to adapt in the new environment. This kind of theoretical basis enables us to view refugees as active agents of change who are capable to survive by developing strategies such as coping, adaptation and resilience