Problems of forced internal migration in the context of the ‘risk society’ concept

In the context of U. Beck’s «risk society» theory the latest trends of forced migration in Ukraine havebeen revealed. It is noted that during recent years Ukrainian society has been generating a number of its own risksand hazards that threaten the normal life of citizens. Migration risks are formed due to the action of three mainfactors: institutional, migrants’ behavioural strategies and the native population living in the area. At the sametime, power institutions can act as an additional source of risk for forced migrants and for the native population,due to the imperfection of managerial influence and public administration.

In Ukraine there is no centralizedgovernment body which could comprehensively pursue the policy in addressing problems of internally displacedpersons. Majority of the forced displaced persons live in areas that are geographically close to their homes and arecontrolled by the Ukrainian government. Most of them will have a desire to return to their previous places ofresidence atthe end of hostilities and occupation. Today the absence of real prospects for regaining state controlover the temporary occupied territories requires adequate adaptation strategies as the short term necessity.Problems of the forced displaced persons threaten the national security of Ukraine. The consequences ofhumanitarian catastrophe in the East of the country are going to be enduring, so priority is to develop thefoundations of unified state policy for internally displaced persons. First of all, thefocus should be on ensuring thebalance between the interests of local communities and ensuring immigrants’ normal living conditions.

Reintegration programs for forced displaced persons should be directed not only to support employment forimmigrants, butalso to promote socio-economic development of local communities by using available humanpotential of displaced persons.In the situation of uncertainty for forced internally displaced persons the most urgentproblem is a search for peculiar optimum between adaptation strategy for survival and individual’s orientation toactive steps in order to fully participate in labour activity. The government should provide material and informationsupport within the limits of available opportunities for those who remain in the temporarily occupied territory.