Development-induced displacement is a social problem affecting multiple levels of human organization, from tribal and village communities to well-developed urban areas.
While people displaced as a result of development have similar experiences to refugees (as defined by the UNHCR) in terms of economic and social loss, they are not protected by international law.
[13] Communities and individuals are most often only compensated monetarily, without proper mechanisms for addressing their grievances or political support to improve their livelihoods.
Loss of connection to historical, religious, symbolic or spatial locations resulting from forced migration diminishes cultural identity.
[17] The work of sociologists and anthropologists studying displaced populations gradually led to a body of theoretical and conceptual knowledge.
Development planners were eventually forced to rely on the work of social scientists in order to devise resettlement plans.
[12] Resettlement policy may be adopted by the state, regional associations, private development companies, NGOs, large financial institutions and the United Nations.