Labour market inclusion of Afghan refugees in Pakistan through Bourdieu's theory of capital
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
ISSN: 2040-7149
Article publication date: 24 August 2021
Issue publication date: 22 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This article examines the labour market inclusion of documented and undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan using and extending Bourdieu's theory of capital.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors draw on 22 semi-structured in-depth interviews with both documented and undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Findings
The findings show the low capital endowments of refugees. Their economic capital is shaped by low levels of financial resources, and emotional capital is shaped by their psychological distress and traumata and identity capital takes the form of negative perceptions about them. Their low capital endowments are further reduced through different forms of symbolic violence, such as ambiguous and short-term government policies, bribery and abuse by the police as well as unfair treatment by employers. However, refugees do mobilise their capital endowments to enhance their labour market position. The authors identified resilience as emotional capital, their strategic development of who they are as identity capital as well as social and cultural capital in the form of ethnic and linguistic similarities with locals in finding ways to improve their inclusion in the labour market.
Originality/value
The authors provide insights in the dynamics that lead to and sustain the exclusion and inequalities faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
Keywords
Citation
Ali, F., Hennekam, S., Syed, J., Ahmed, A. and Mubashar, R. (2021), "Labour market inclusion of Afghan refugees in Pakistan through Bourdieu's theory of capital", Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Vol. 40 No. 8, pp. 1032-1050. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-12-2020-0353
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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