Towards a harmonious community: on community integration and the perceptions of relocatees on governance and local elections.

Abstract

At the heart of the debate on resettlement studies is the question on how people be successfully transitioned into their host communities. As community integration is a stated goal in both government and GK-led resettlement projects, there is a need to assess the effectiveness of these institutions as perceived by their beneficiaries in achieving community integration. Attitudes on elections must also be analyzed since it is said that connectedness in the community affects participation in elections and as there has been a declining trust in government institutions. This exploratory study found that that there is a strong positive correlation with the four aspects of community integration, physical, social, psychological and civic attachment, and their attitudes on the way their communities are governed. Attitudes toward elections particularly the belief that there will be improvements in their conditions remain optimistic in both resettlement sites. The positive correlation with how the relocatees perceive governance in their communities and the level of their post-relocation community integration reflects the need of better governing mechanisms in order for them to belong in a more harmonious community