What can be done to enhance the participation of refugees and asylum seekers in the political life of their host countries and their countries of origin? What legal and institutional mechanisms are needed to create enabling environments to foster their participation, and which factors might hinder this participation?

This report explores the possible answers to these questions, focusing on refugees from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan and Syria, and their experiences in eight host countries: Germany, Kenya, Lebanon, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, Uganda and the United Kingdom. 

Drawing on a total of 638 in-depth interviews with refugees and key informants, the report provides unique insights into the challenges and opportunities related to refugees’ political participation.

Recognizing the dual role of refugees as political actors, the Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Democracy project aims to explore the challenges and opportunities related to the political participation of refugees in their host countries and countries of origin.

The Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Democracy project was made possible by funding from the Robert Bosch Stiftung.