Mobilization of Second-Generation Refugees and Migrants and Their Socio-Political Identity

Abstract

Second-generation refugees and migrants—individuals born to displaced parents—are increasingly becoming influential actors in shaping socio-political spaces within host societies. Their identities are neither fully aligned with their parents’ countries of origin nor entirely shaped by the host nation’s cultural and political frameworks. This study examines how second-generation Afghan refugees and internal migrants in Balochistan form and understand their socio-political identities and explores the processes, motivations, and contextual factors underlying their political mobilization and civic engagement. Unlike first-generation migrants who struggle primarily with legal, economic, and survival-focused challenges, second-generation groups navigate hybrid identities shaped by belonging, exclusion, intergenerational aspirations, and localized power dynamics. Using a qualitative research design, this study draws on in-depth interviews with fourteen participants—seven Afghan second-generation refugees and seven second-generation internal migrants residing in Balochistan. Thematic analysis was applied to explore experiences, identity negotiations, political motivations, and patterns of civic participation. Four major themes emerged: identity negotiation between inherited and localized experiences; the role of discrimination and social exclusion in strengthening political consciousness; intergenerational aspirations and community-based responsibilities; and emerging pathways to mobilization shaped by education, digital spaces, and local grievances. Findings indicate that socio-political identity for second-generation groups is a dynamic, contextually embedded process influenced simultaneously by family history, host-society interactions, opportunities, and constraints. Political mobilization emerges both as a coping mechanism and as a proactive strategy for asserting belonging, achieving representation, and navigating marginalization. The study concludes that understanding the political agency of second-generation displaced groups is critical for designing inclusive policies that acknowledge their hybrid identities and civic potential.

Keyword: Refugee; Migration; Social Identity; Political Identity.