This post is the second in a three-part series based on a 2023 qualitative study conducted by The Fund for Armenian Relief’s (FAR's) Child Protection Center (CPC) to explore the psychological and social dynamics of forced displacement, using Armenia's integration of more than 115,000 displaced persons from Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) as a contemporary case study. In Part 1, we examined how displacement disrupts identity and belonging and efforts to understand the psychological impacts on both displaced individuals and host societies.

The arrival of displaced communities creates tensions that hinder integration. Host communities often face frayed social trust issues due to economic instability, limited employment opportunities, and strained public services. Armenia's recent experience with displaced Armenians from neighboring Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) illustrates the complexity and emotional dimensions of this process.

Research conducted by The Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) employed an interdisciplinary approach, merging sociological, cultural, and psychological theories with extensive qualitative field data collected across various Armenian communities that hosted displaced individuals. The goal was to understand the realities of integration and propose critical theoretical frameworks and inform practical interventions.

A critical observation from this study aligns closely with Integrated Threat Theory by Stephan and Stephan (2000). According to this framework, social tension and mistrust between groups typically emerge from four primary perceptions: symbolic threats, realistic threats, intergroup anxiety, and negative stereotypes.

Realistic threats, which involve competition for tangible resources, were evident. One local resident encapsulated this sentiment: "Artsakh Armenians all receive money and aid…which angers the disadvantaged class here." This statement shows how........

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