Refugees' Perspectives' on Azerbaijan: Armenia Conflict

Abstract

National level conflicts often neglect the wrath they cause their very own people who fear loss of life, livelihood and thrive to survive in those tough conditions. Those who flee are termed refugees and the ones who decide to stay are labelled as "victims of war”. The study focused on male and female adolescent refugees of Azerbaijan, where conflict has been breeding through generations and has become the part of the very values, beliefs and choices. The study aimed to explore the underlying difference in opinion and behaviour of male and female adolescent refugees who have same cultural patterns and adorn similar collective identities, yet are different in attributing causes of conflict, discussing strategies and the weightage they give to external (political) and internal (community) factors of the Conflict. In this study, sample size of 12 (5 males and 7 females) was taken and were interviewed using semi-structured interviews and transcribes were then analysed. The themes which came up were discussed with a framework of role of culture (interpersonal relationships and responsibility ownership). Having a shared culture, the insights projected a tangential nature of both: one's own identification and beliefs regarding the self and on someone from the other side of the boundary. There was mutual agreement on certain aspects of living for example pride for one's own country, urge to be financially stable, having an ambition, keenness for finding one's purpose and an extremely high zest to resolve ambiguity of situation and anonymity of self. The adolescents' were persistent and passionate, wanting a secure meaningful worthy life for themselves and their community members. The study contributes to greater understanding of this infamous Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict and scientifically presents the opinion of male and female adolescent refugees, who are essentially the change agents.