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The Effect of Religious Restrictions on Forced Migration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 August 2014

Melanie Kolbe*
Affiliation:
University of Georgia, Athens
Peter S. Henne*
Affiliation:
Pew Research Center
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Melanie Kolbe, Department of International Affairs, University of Georgia, Candler Hall, Athens, Georgia30602. E-mail: mkolbe@uga.edu
Peter S. Henne, Pew Research Center, 1615 L Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036. E-mail: phenne@pewresearch.org

Abstract

What is the impact of religious repression on forced migration? While current and historical cases highlight the significance of state-sponsored religions repression, existing quantitative studies on forced migration have not sufficiently addressed the role of religion as a determinant of flight. We argue that religious repression undermines the quality of life, quality of religious observance, and physical integrity of religious communities, and therefore increases incentives to leave. We test this through a quantitative analysis of forced migration data from 1990 to 2008 and several measures of religious repression, using a negative binomial regression. We find that state-driven religious repression, in particular religious bans, tends to increase forced migration. These findings contribute to the body of forced migration literature and the study of religion and politics by demonstrating the significant effects religious repression has on this aspect of world politics.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Religion and Politics Section of the American Political Science Association 2014 

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