Forced Displacement, Socio-Economic Impacts and Misplaced Identity of Villagers: A Qualitative Exploration of Three Villages in Lahore

Abstract

Displacement forces communities to shift their habitat, which may also affect their socio-economic status. Very few scholarly studies have documented its socio-economic impacts. Especially the effects of forced internal displacement resulting from the development of new housing societies are missing in the literature. To fill the gap, the present study explores the socio-economic impacts of internal displacement on villagers from three villages of Lahore. For this purpose, 18 in-depth interviews were conducted through purposive sampling. Qualitative methodology and methods were used to achieve the research objectives, select and recruit the research participants, and collect and analyze data. Internal forced displacement negatively affected the daily routine activities, social capital, breakdown in the family system, detachment and identity crises, and sense of community ownership. Displacement also generated economic dependence among villagers, making their skills and expertise irrelevant in relocated settings. Hence, proper resettlement policies and plans should be implemented before displacement to avoid negative socio-economic impacts.