Beyond Dichotomies: Rethinking Conflict Dynamics between the Refugee-Host Community in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh
Abstract
Why does the relationship between refugees and hosts in long-term displacement always seem to fail? Global displacement presents a significant challenge; yet existing analytical frameworks frequently simplify complex dynamics into a binary struggle. This study argues that such reductionism conceals the true drivers of conflict. Our objective is to systematically examine the multi-layered conflicts, exemplified by the protracted displacement in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, using the complexity paradigm, analysing actor, issue, and behavioural complexity. The methodology relies on qualitative fieldwork, including 40 in-depth interviews with refugees, host community members, local leaders and humanitarian practitioners, and document analysis. The main findings show that the conflict is a complex adaptive system, where hostility is not inevitable but induced by policy-driven competition (such as the restriction of legal work) and interconnected loops of escalation. Specifically, substantial cuts in humanitarian aid intensify desperation, promote illegal activities, and perpetuate host community bias, systematically undermining initial solidarity. This study confirms the limitations of reductionist crisis management and presents explicit implications: mitigating conflict requires systemic policy initiatives aimed at addressing statelessness and establishing sustainable integration models, rather than merely managing symptoms.
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