CMU professor investigates implications of forced migration

Central Michigan University Political Science faculty member Prakash Adhikari spent the 2024-2025 academic year on sabbatical leave as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in Malawi, a country in southeastern Africa. He taught two courses on International Relations (IR) for the Department of Politics and Government at University of Malawi (UNIMA) Chancellor College, interacted with several government officials, and conducted an original survey at the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi for investigating the implications of forced migration on international security. He also delivered a public lecture at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, engaging with faculty and students on pressing issues in Sub-Saharan Africa.

With nearly 124 million individuals currently experiencing forced displacement worldwide and with 20% of the world’s refugees living in camps, the need for understanding implication of forced migration on international security could not be greater. The Dzaleka refugee camp, with more than 52,000 refugees from countries such as the Democratic of Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Somalia, is one of several examples of protracted refugee situations around the world. Adhikari’s research seeks to understand the potential broader implications of protracted refugee situations to the future of national, regional and international security.

Adhikari also supported the launch of Humans of UNIMA, a student-led initiative aimed at amplifying the voices of marginalized communities in Malawi. This student group has started collaborating with a student-led nongovernmental organization called the Refugee Outreach Collective (ROC), which works in collaboration with student groups across different campuses in the U.S., including one chapter at CMU, to provide educational access to college-age refugees living in the Dzaleka refugee camp.

During his Fulbright fellowship in Malawi, Adhikari also organized several information sessions with Global Classroom students.

Going forward, Adhikari says he looks forward to assisting prospective Fulbright applicants and he will continue working with colleagues at UNIMA on the development of a new academic program focused on Refugees and Forced Migration Studies. Malawi has been hosting over 52,000 refugees for more than a decade now, but higher education institutions in the country do not currently offer courses on refugees and forced migration. The proposed program will play a crucial role in providing this much-needed education in the country as well as providing policy inputs to the local government.

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are faculty, researchers, administrators, and established professionals teaching or conducting research in affiliation with institutes abroad. Fulbright Scholars engage in cutting-edge research and expand their professional networks, often continuing research collaborations started abroad and laying the groundwork for forging future partnerships between institutions. Upon returning to their home countries, institutions, labs, and classrooms, they share their stories and often become active supporters of international exchange, inviting foreign scholars to campus and encouraging colleagues and students to go abroad.

Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government. The Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information, visit the Fulbright Program website.

To learn more about Central Michigan University’s academic programs, visit the Political Science and Public Administration website.