Migration and Forced Displacement

bicc's projects on Migration and Forced Displacement focus on the mobility, livelihood strategies, integration and reintegration prospects of forcibly displaced individuals, along with the causes and consequences of protracted displacement. They provide policy advice, engage in dialogue with key stakeholders and public debates on the topic.

 

In June 2023, the United Nations reported that the number of forcibly displaced persons had reached a new high of 110 million. Against this background, bicc conducts empirical research dealing with the mobility and livelihood strategies used by migrants, refugees, and other individuals who have been displaced. Our research examines the support networks and solidarity structures that exist locally and across national borders for these individuals. Additionally, bicc investigates the potential for these displaced populations to integrate locally and their prospects for return and reintegration.

Similarly, we analyse the origins and outcomes of long-term displacement, encampment and forced immobility, as well as the subsequent impact on the dynamics between individuals who have been displaced, those who have returned and the communities hosting them.

This necessitates, among various factors, a critical analysis of the political economy of forced displacement, processes of (re-)integration and border regimes. It also requires the study of policies, discourses and governance structures that facilitate or impede individuals' mobility, livelihoods and social interactions.

Our empirical research is focused on migration and forced displacement, encompassing various geographical contexts, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. These settings include countries characterised by violent conflict and transit zones, and areas where individuals dwell temporarily or permanently.

Our approach involves thorough empirical research to understand these phenomena comprehensively. Using qualitative, quantitative and participatory methodologies, our research attempts to enhance our understanding of the everyday experiences, coping mechanisms and viewpoints of migrants and displaced individuals.

Ultimately, our objective is to facilitate the establishment of displacement solutions that are firmly grounded in the rights, necessities and priorities of the affected groups. We provide policy recommendations and engage in discourse with influential actors and the public about migration, forced displacement, integration and return.

bicc is a member of IMISCOE (International Migration Research Network)

selected publications

Other

Kohlenberger, J., Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik, P., Laube, L., Parusel, B., & Saracino, D.

Instrumentalisation of Migration: Europe Needs a Strong and Lawful Response

Hertie School Jacques Delors Centre , Berlin (2025)

Open
Journal article

Vollmer, R., & Schmitz-Pranghe, C.

Inside the Black Box: Tracing Interactions Between Stratified Reintegration Trajectories and Street-Level Implementation of Reintegration Assistance

Wiley (2025)

Open
Book chapter

Etzold, B., & Fechter, A.

Gendered Experiences of Waiting, (Dis)Connectivity, and (Im)Mobility under Conditions of Protracted Displacement

Oxford University Press (2025)

Open
Book chapter

Dincer, O., Döring, M., Etzold, B., Himmelstoß, G., Johansson, S., Mielke, K., Şahin-Mencütek, Z., Saleh, L., Schetter, C., Schmitz-Pranghe, C., Șupac, I., Thiem, M., & Vollmer, R.

Für eine Abkehr von Fluchtpolitik als Sicherheitspolitik

transcript , Bielefeld (2025)

Open
Book

Report Globale Flucht 2025

FISCHER Taschenbuch (2025)

Open
Report

Mielke, K., Vollmer, R., Wolf, D., & Şahin-Mencütek, Z.

Return Migration Infrastructures in Germany – The Case of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia

GAPs (2025)

Open
bicc policy brief

Dinçer, O., Vollmer, R., Şahin-Mencütek, Z., & Engelberth, S.

Syrian Refugee Return: What Policy Must Do

bicc , Bonn (2025)

Open
Other

Etzold, B., Ansar, A., & Rashid, S.

Die Wurzeln der Gewalt erkennen

FluchtforschungsBlog , Hamburg (2025)

Open
Report

Rashid, S., Etzold, B., & Ansar, A.

Gendered violence and insecurity in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh – new insights and ways forward

bicc , Bonn (2025)

Open
Journal article

Şahin-Mencütek, Z.

Conceptual Complexity About Return Migration of Refugees/Asylum Seekers

(2024)

Open
Journal Article

Lorenz, R., & Etzold, B.

Journeys of Violence: Trajectories of (Im-)Mobility and Migrants’ Encounters with Violence in European Border Spaces

(2022)

Open
Journal Article

Şahin-Mencütek, Z.

The Geopolitics of Returns: Geopolitical Reasoning and Space-Making in Turkey’s Repatriation Regime

Taylor & Francis (2022)

Open
Journal Article

Etzold, B., & Fechter, A.

Unsettling protracted displacement: connectivity and mobility beyond ‘Limbo’

Taylot & Francis (2022)

Open
Journal Article

Kraler, A., Etzold, B., & Ferreira, N.

Understanding the dynamics of protracted displacement

(2021)

Open
Book chapter

Sterly, H., Etzold, B., Wirkus, L., Sakdapolrak, P., Schleussner, C., & Hennig, B.

Assessing refugees’ onward mobility with mobile phone data—A case study of (Syrian) refugees in Turkey

Springer , Cham (2019)

Open
Other publications

Kleist, J., Engler, M., Etzold, B., Mielke, K., Oltmer, J., Pott, A., Schetter, C., & Wirkus, L.

Abschlussbericht – Flucht- und Flüchtlingsforschung in Deutschland: Eine Bestandsaufnahme.

IMIS/BICC , Osnabrück (2019)

Open
Book chapter

Rudolf, M.

Flucht und Fluchtursachenbekämpfung im globalen Süden

LIT Verlag , Berlin (2017)

Open
Other publications

Etzold, B.

Migrations- und Fluchtpfade aus Afrika nach Europa. In Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Ed.), Kurzdossiers – Zuwanderung, Flucht und Asyl: Aktuelle Themen.

(2017)

Open
Other publications

Şahin-Mencütek, Z., Mielke, K., Schmitz-Pranghe, C., & Vollmer, R.

When Returning Home Feels Like Hell

IPS Journal (2023)

Open
Journal Article

Fakhoury, T., & Şahin-Mencütek, Z.

The Geopolitics of Return Migration in the International System

Taylor & Francis (2023)

Open
Book chapter

Sterly, H., & Wirkus, L.

Analysing Refugees' Secondary Mobility Using Mobile Phone Call Data Records

Oxford University Press , London (2022)

Open

Our Topic Experts

Dr Osman Bahadır Dinçer

Senior Researcher

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Dr Benjamin Etzold

Senior Researcher

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Elvan Isikozlu

Senior Management & Head of Advice and Scientific Transfer

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Dr Esther Meininghaus

Senior Researcher

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Dr Zeynep Şahin-Mencütek

Senior Researcher

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Dr Katja Mielke

Senior Researcher

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Dr Daniele Saracino

Researcher

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Dr Lamis Saleh

Senior Researcher

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Professor Dr Conrad Schetter

Director

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Clara Schmitz-Pranghe

Researcher

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Inna Șupac

Researcher

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Maarit Thiem

Senior Project Coordinator

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Ruth Vollmer

Researcher

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Lars Wirkus

Senior Management & Head of Research Infrastructure and Data

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Related projects

Refugee Advisory Board

find out more

Return and Belonging (RE-MIG)

find out more

Trajectories of Reintegration

find out more

Forced Migration and Refugee Studies

find out more

Mobility, Translocality and Gendered Violence

find out more