On Wednesday March 11,听Dr. Ola G. El-Taliawi, Postdoctoral Fellow in Global Refugee Policy听at 杏吧原创 University, gave a talk听to outline her research agenda for advancing the study of refugee policy. During her talk, she presented her doctoral research on state policy responses to the Syrian refugee movement. Her research focused on听refugee policy formulation and implementation听in Lebanon and Jordan; both non-signatory countries to the听1951 Refugee Convention.听
Dr.听El-Taliawi noted that given the absence of any clear parameters on how states choose to respond to mass refugee flows, and the diversity of responses states adopt, it is imperative that we advance our understanding of what influences states鈥�听refugee policymaking. This is especially important in cases of extreme emergency and crisis situations, when policymaking tends to be more chaotic and ad-hoc. According to her, understanding the drivers and factors that influence refugee policymaking can help us reduce the negative consequences to refugees, host societies and the international humanitarian community.听
Dr. Ola G. El-Taliawi presented a talk on refugee policy formulation and implementation on March 11.
A key point highlighted听by听Dr.听El-Taliawi听was the need to adopt complexity and systems thinking when analysing refugee policymaking during crisis situations.听According to her, policies in such situations emerge from complex and dynamic system interactions that change and evolve over time. Non-restrictive policy responses are not solely linked to Convention adoption or conformance to international norms of refugee protection, but may emerge from other factors including local norms. Her talk ended with a set of policy recommendations for crisis mitigation including the need to adopt a third approach to refugee protection; one which realizes both the interests of the hosts and the refugee population.听听
With over 80% of refugee research originating in the Global North,听Dr.听El-Taliawi听commended the approach that the Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN) has adopted in taking听a听collaborative approach听research and knowledge mobilization; one which ensures听that refugee research听and policies are shaped by听more inclusive, equitable and informed collective engagement of civil society.听
As a Postdoctoral Fellow,听Dr.听El-Taliawi will dedicate the next two years听to updating her research findings and publishing them to be accessible to the听academic and practitioner听communities听alike. Further, her plans include organizing an international workshop for the study of refugee policymaking,听which will bring together researchers and others interested in听bridging the divide听between public policy and refugee studies.听
You can stay up to date with all upcoming LERRN events here.