City Research Online

Abstract

This thesis initially set out to use Participatory Action Research (PAR) to explore internal displacement in Afghanistan, following a bottom-up approach to knowledge production that challenges the dominant research approach in forced migration studies. However, the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul and my subsequent evacuation disrupted the research. As a result, the project shifted into an ethnographic and autoethnographic study.

Attempts to apply PAR both in Afghanistan and later among Afghan evacuees in the UK faced considerable challenges. Although I am Afghan, my identity as a Hazara often positioned me as an outsider. In addition to that, the temporary and fragmented conditions of life in bridging hotels meant that stable communities—essential for participatory research—had not yet formed. These obstacles highlight the limitations of PAR in crisis settings, particularly when institutional and community support is absent.

Given these constraints, the research moved towards an ethnographic and autoethnographic approach to examine the lived experiences of Afghan forced migrants (evacuees) resettled in London, focusing on their unmet and failed expectations as it emerged from data.

A key influence on these expectations were the concepts of Kharij (abroad) and Khariji (foreigners), which shaped how Afghans imagined the Global North. Kharij was often seen as a place of order, fairness, and opportunity, in contrast to the instability and injustice of Afghanistan. This perception was reinforced through years of interaction with Khariji—including development workers, military personnel, NGO staff, and consultants—who were seen as symbols of powerful and benevolent systems that promised progress and inclusion. Many Afghan professionals internalised these ideals through their work with international organisations.

These expectations did not emerge in isolation. They were formed over time through prior experiences of exile and prolonged engagement with foreign missions. This shaped a belief among many that their loyalty, service, and risks would be recognised and rewarded with protection, respect, and opportunity in the Global North.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Departments:	School of Policy & Global Affairs > Department of Sociology & Criminology School of Policy & Global Affairs > School of Policy & Global Affairs Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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