Abstract

How do humanitarian norms and national security concerns shape a host state refugee policy? This article addresses this question in the context of Bangladesh, the largest host state in the world for Rohingya refugees. It argues that although the norms of humanitarian protection can explain why a host state would open its border to forced migrants and allow relief agencies access to the refugee camps, humanitarianism alone cannot explain the full gamut of a state’s refugee policy. Instead, a better and fuller account of the refugee policy would require understanding the national security concerns of the host state, and the process through which such concerns lead to restrictive policies. These competing theoretical explanations are tested in the context of the pre- and post-2017 Rohingya refugee influxes. Findings reveal how altruistic sentiments towards the Rohingya people have historically been overshadowed by denial of refugee status and restricted mobility in camp-based settlements, a recent relocation plan, and the search for repatriation to Myanmar as the most viable solution to the Rohingya refugee crisis.

摘要

人道主义规范和国家安全问题如何影响东道国的难民政策？本文在孟加拉国这个世界上最大的罗兴亚难民收容国的背景下解决了这个问题。它争辩说，虽然人道主义保护的规范可以解释为什么东道国会向被迫移民开放边境并允许救援机构进入难民营，但仅靠人道主义并不能解释一个国家难民政策的全部范围。相反，更好、更全面地说明难民政策需要了解东道国的国家安全问题，以及这些问题导致限制性政策的过程。这些相互矛盾的理论解释在 2017 年之前和之后的罗兴亚难民涌入的背景下进行了测试。