A theoretical model of identity shift in protracted refugee situations

Refugees are increasingly spending time displaced from their home countries---either in camps or other arrangements. This prompts questions about the role of a traditional, territorially-based notion of national identity during long-term displacement. Do refugees separated from home for generations still retain their national identities? Using an algorithm based on attitude shifts, we developed a theoretical model to represent identity shifts among long-term encamped refugees. Findings from the simulation indicate that refugees, due to the limited types of interactions they may encounter when confined to a camp, may experience identity shifts away from that of their home country, as well as away from territorial nationality. The theoretical model presented in this paper serves as a starting point to question the ability of the UN's 'durable solutions' to refugee crises in a global climate where forced migration endures for increasingly long periods of time.