Dr Auethavornpipat’s study focuses on the Rohingya refugees, who faced unprecedented hostility during COVID-19.
“Rohingya refugees describe the surge in online hate speech and disinformation targeting their community, which aimed to shape public perception among host communities,” he explains.
The research shows that this hostility has gone beyond words, with some calling for refugees to be forcibly returned to places where their safety cannot be guaranteed.
“Returning refugees to harm is prohibited by international law and represents a serious challenge to both refugee protection and the international refugee regime,” says Dr Auethavornpipat.
The study finds that strong emotions, such as resentment, can fuel these movements and reshape how societies think about refugees and global responsibility.
“With the rising backlash against migrants and refugees globally, much more work remains to be done to understand the implications of radical contestation for not only migrant and refugee protection but also the broader principles of the rule of law and democracy.”
