‘Like a Parrot Screaming in Its Cage’ Activism and Empowerment in Nepal’s Bhutanese Refugee Community

Authors

Elena Phoutrides, SIT Study Abroad

Home Institution

Boston College

Publication Date

Fall 2006

Program Name

Nepal: Culture and Development

Abstract

This paper will look at empowerment in the Bhutanese refugee community from a number of angles. First of all, it will examine issues of representation. Refugees are often represented to media sources and agencies by Bhutanese political leaders who do not always represent the variety of needs and views present in the 100,000-person plus refugee community. Second, this paper will discuss camp management and the ways in which participation is encouraged and discouraged by agencies involved in providing for refugees. The refugee community is far from silent on issues of participation and representation; thus this paper will look at several examples of Bhutanese activism that have been successful in defining and fulfilling needs within the community.

Disciplines

Demography, Population, and Ecology | Politics and Social Change

Recommended Citation

Phoutrides, Elena, "‘Like a Parrot Screaming in Its Cage’ Activism and Empowerment in Nepal’s Bhutanese Refugee Community" (2006). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 311.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/311