Refugee Migration as a "Wicked Problem": American Controlling, Palliative, and Governance Policies in Global Context. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Raadschelders, Jos C. N.; Larrison, Jennica; Thapar, Aditi V.
• Is Part Of: World affairs. Volume 182:Number 3(2019)
• Page Start: 228
• Page End: 255
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Refugee Migration Policies -- Wicked Problems -- Political and Economic Causes of Refugee Migration -- Refugee Administration.; Migración de refugiados -- Problemas retorcidos -- Causas políticas y económicas de la migración de refugiados -- Desafíos de la política migratoria -- Refugiados -- Estados Unidos; 难免迁移 -- 棘手问题 -- 难民迁移的政治和经济起因 -- 迁移政策挑战 -- 难民 -- 美国 -- 全球 -- 缓解地方难民政策 -- 难民接收国; International relations -- Periodicals; Peace -- Periodicals; Arbitration (International law) -- Periodicals; United States -- Foreign relations -- Periodicals; Arbitration (International law); International relations; Peace; United states; Foreign relations; Internationale politiek; Periodicals; 327.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0043820019864103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-8200

Abstract

Refugee migration is a very visible and growing wicked problem. In this conceptual article, we outline a framework that identifies types of policies, levels of government (in refugee receiving countries), and causes for refugee migration as factors that create this wicked problem. Many refugee migration policies in Northern countries are mainly limited to being controlling at the national level and palliative at the local level. We further highlight a serious lack of true governing policies that address the push factors that drive people away from unpalatable political and/or economic circumstances in their home countries. Focusing solely on refugee policies may be practical but is not productive when the larger environmental context that prompts refugee migration is ignored in the longer term.