Embargo Period

12-14-2018

Degree Name

MA in Conflict Transformation

First Advisor

Prof John Ungerleider

Abstract

This capstone project builds on my practicum study reflections and experiences of the diverse narratives shared with me by survivors of torture during my personal field observations during my collaborations with the project on System Science and Spirituality for Applied Conflict Transformation (SSSACT) based at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Urban resettlements put cities like Boston at the forefront of responses of forced migration footprints. The globally forced displacement tide causes upsurge of refugees and asylum seekers from rural/camps to towns and cities for ease of access of opportunities and services as they navigate the complex post-resettlements adjustments. The dynamics of change in the resettlement pattern poses governments, government agencies, international organizations, civil society actors with enormous challenges regarding addressing the needs and rights of refugees and asylum seekers. This paper leverages the trauma-informed theoretical framework developed by Olga Botcharova, a conflict resolution expert, that organizes levels of conflict transformation along survivor/victims and enemy/aggressor levels. This paper also leverages a comprehensive review of literatures from public health and security experts in order to answer the overall applied question of this inquiry to: examine and characterize how civil society actors (such as community-based organizations, clinics and other social service providers) in Boston area support refugees and asylum seekers’ ability to co-exist, adapt, and struggle with integration in urban environments in order to support security, stability and healing?

This paper’s methodological design utilizes ethnographic techniques to generate a strategy that explores extensive data narratives based on mixed methods. It also conducts analysis to map domains emerging from the grounded themes in order to make recommendations for an integral social service and public health intervention framework which addresses the needs and rights of refugees and asylum seekers while enabling a culture of peace among social service and health agencies in the Boston metro area.

Download

Share

 
COinS