The International Red Cross recently reported that more than 70 million people worldwide have been forced to leave their homes and live as migrants. From 2003-2006, the Forced Migration Project tested the hypothesis that increasing numbers of these forced migrants were produced by countries with threatening governments and violent dissidents. Under the direction of Will H. Moore, in the Department of Political Science at Florida State University, and Steve Shellman, in the Department of Government at the College of William and Mary, the Forced Migration Project sought to answer the motivating question: why do some countries produce large numbers of forced migrants while others produce few or none at all? Additionally, the study sought to understand what specific characteristics within countries account for this significant variation and if forced migrants are produced, what characteristics within and between countries infuence where they end up. A global sampling of countries over a 40-year period of time between 1952 and 1995 concluded that violent behavior and fear of persecution had a markedly larger impact on forced migration than other variables like the economy, climate change or natural disasters. While time and circumstances may have changed, it is increasingly clear that forced migration remains a significant issue for victims across the world. Research from scientists like Will Moore and Steve Shellman help governments and humanitarian groups better understand the roots of forced migration in order to best help its many displaced victims.

2.  The International Red Cross recently reported that
more than 70 million people worldwide have been
forced to leave their homes and live as migrants. From
2003-2006, the Forced Migration Project tested the
hypothesis that increasing numbers of these forced
migrants were produced by countries with threatening
governments and violent dissidents. Under the
direction of Will H. Moore, in the Department of
Political Science at Florida State University, and Steve
Shellman, in the Department of Government at the
College of William and Mary, the Forced Migration
Project sought to answer the motivating question: why
do some countries produce large numbers of forced
migrants while others produce few or none at all?

3. Additionally, the study sought to understand what specific
characteristics within countries account for this significant variation
and if forced migrants are produced, what characteristics within and
between countries infuence where they end up. A global sampling of
countries over a 40-year period of time between 1952 and 1995
concluded that violent behavior and fear of persecution had a
markedly larger impact on forced migration than other variables like
the economy, climate change or natural disasters. While time and
circumstances may have changed, it is increasingly clear that forced
migration remains a significant issue for victims across the world.
Research from scientists like Will Moore and Steve Shellman help
governments and humanitarian groups better understand the roots of
forced migration in order to best help its many displaced victims.