Integration at the Neighborhood Level: Cross-National Comparisons of Syrian Refugee Segregation

Cities across the world experienced influxes of refugees in recent decades, contributing to a rise in ethnic residential segregation.

The aim of this study is to answer: what factors drive the formation of “ethnic enclaves”?The project innovatively develops a generalizable theory of the causes of segregation from simultaneous perspectives of both migrant and host population communities.

It runs face-to-face surveys to provide voice to marginalized immigrant populations often left out of research due to researcher preference for cheaper and easier online surveying.

A major empirical contribution of this study is its large-n data employing experimental methods, informed by a series of in-depth interviews.The study expands our understanding of segregation through cross-country comparisons.

Replicating aspects of earlier VR-funded research on refugees living in cities in the global south (Amman, Jordan and Adana, Turkey) allows for comparisons with cities of the global north (Gothenburg, Sweden and San Diego, United States).

Focusing the study on a single set of migrants—Syrians who currently constitute the largest displaced population in the world—allows increased precision for these cross-country comparisons.

Like many refugees, Syrians have been displaced for more than a decade now.This project includes researchers from Sweden and the US who have deep experience with survey experimental methods, working with vulnerable populations, and are natives of the cities for study.