A New Conceptual Framework for Understanding Displacement: Bridging the Gaps in Displacement Literature between the Global South and the Global North

Abstract

Forced displacement caused by development has become a global pressing issue. This article critically reviews the literature on urban displacement and discerns two divides, related to terminology and Global North-South divide. To overcome these gaps, we propose a new conceptual framework of urban displacement that positions the experience of being displaced at the center. By setting aside preconceptions based on terminology or the Global North/South divide, this article articulates five concepts encapsulating meaningful aspects of being displaced: power, positionality, eligibility, temporality, and resistance. This framework shows that while urban displacement has different economic, social, and political contexts, the experience of being displaced has shared global qualities.