About the project
This project investigates how Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons navigate migration trajectories and maintain resilience in the face of adversity. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, the project will provide insights into how Ukrainians are coping with the fall-out of Russia’s invasion (demography and psychology).
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led to the largest forced displacement crisis in Europe since World War II. Within the first few months of war, nearly 6 million people fled Ukraine and 5.3 million were internally displaced. Although millions have returned home, the war continues, with daily bombings, evacuations, and casualties. Nonetheless, relatively few studies have explored the impact of war on the Ukrainian population.
This mixed-methods project proposes using demographic techniques, advanced quantitative or qualitative methods, and psychological approaches to examine how war affects individuals and the overall population.
Candidates can examine this topic through a variety of perspectives and approaches, with the aim of understanding what works best to create a resilient society. Analysing surveys that interviewed Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced migrants since Russia’s invasion, the candidate could use statistical methods to examine factors such as psychological well-being, witnessing violence, and strategies for maintaining resilience.
The candidate could conduct in-depth interviews with refugees or individuals still in Ukraine to better understand the impact of the war and successful coping mechanisms. Research could also target specific groups, such as internally displaced persons, the elderly, or veterans. Taken as a whole, the research will allow the student to examine how displaced populations navigate crisis and adapt to new conditions.
Supervisors have links with Ukrainian Demographic and Economic institutes and research agencies, as well as the Action on Armed Violence and other NGOs. Findings will be communicated through networks in Ukraine and to UK policy makers who work on refugee issues.
