Leaving in Droves from the Orange Groves: The Nepali-Bhutanese Refugee Experience and the Diminishing of Dignity

Abstract

Refugee situations can pose a threat to dignity due to the loss of land and livelihood. This chapter however argues that dignity is dynamic, and that autonomy and normalcy can play a role in restoring dignity at different stages of the refugee experience. We begin by exploring two theoretical dignity dichotomies, and then examine autonomy and normalcy as two of dignity's overlooked antecedents. We proceed to the case of Nepali-Bhutanese refugees, and show how dignity, rather than remaining in a steady state, waxes and wanes over time. Before concluding we offer some thoughts as to how dignity can be restored in the post-resettlement context.