Cindy Horst

Research Professor

Cindy Horst

Research Interests

  • Culture and violent conflict
  • Everyday resistance
  • Active citizenship
  • Mobility and transnationalism affecting (national) identities
  • The impact of transnationalism on (post-)conflict situations
  • Interactions between refugees and the refugee regime
  • Refugee Livelihoods
  • Diaspora Engagements
  • Ethical and Methodological challenges of fieldwork in conflict situations

Background

​​​​​​​​Cindy Horst is  Research Professor in Migration and Refugee Studies and co-director of the PRIO Centre on Culture and Violent Conflict. Her current research focuses on how individuals,  including artists and academics, can challenge the status quo and effect societal change in (post-)conflict settings. In her research on (transnational) civic engagement, she asks questions that problematise normative ideas of 'active citizenship', exploring how people living in culturally and religiously diverse societies engage with their surroundings. She also researches civic support for social justice, humanitarianism and development, including diaspora engagement with regions of origin and the transnational activities of refugees. Cindy is especially interested in innovative research methodologies that foster a critical and ethically conscious engagement with the theme of study, through shared anthropology and multi-sited ethnography. Cindy is the author of Transnational Nomads: How Somalis cope with refugee life in the Dadaab camps of Kenya (Berghahn, 2006). Her recent publications include 'Miracles in dark times: Hannah Arendt and refugees as 'vanguard'', Journal of Refugee Studies (2021), co-authored with professor Odin Lysaker,  and 'A foreign policy actor of importance? The role of the Somali diaspora in shaping Norwegian policy towards Somalia', Foreign Policy Analysis (2019), co-authored with doctoral researcher Ebba Tellander. 

Languages spoken:

Dutch (mother tongue), English (fluent), Norwegian (good), German, (intermediate), French (basic), Somali (basic),

Work Experience:

Moderator of the Refugee Livelihoods Network, UNHCR
Researcher and Lecturer on forced migration, University of Amsterdam

Education:

2003: PhD in Social Sciences on migration and transnationalism among Somalis, University of Amsterdam
1997: Foundation Course on Forced Migration, Centre for Refugee Studies, Oxford University
1996: MA in Cultural & Social Anthropology, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen

Events

Publications

The following publications are specific to the PRIO Migration Centre. A more complete list is available at www.prio.org.

All Publications

Peer-reviewed Journal Article

Horst, Cindy (2022) Questioning artists: Contributing societal critique and alternative visions in dark times, Conflict and Society 8(1): 212–226.
Lysaker, Odin & Cindy Horst (2021) Miracles in Dark Times: Hannah Arendt and Refugees as ‘Vanguard’, Journal of Refugee Studies 34(1): 67–84.
Horst, Cindy & Tore Vincents Olsen (2021) Transnational Citizens, Cosmopolitan Outlooks? Migration as a Route to Cosmopolitanism, Nordic Journal of Migration Research 11(1): 4–19.
Horst, Cindy; Marta Bivand Erdal & Noor Jdid (2020) The “good citizen”: asserting and contesting norms of participation and belonging in Oslo, Ethnic and Racial Studies 43(16): 76–95.
Tellander, Ebba & Cindy Horst (2019) A Foreign Policy Actor of Importance? The Role of the Somali Diaspora in Shaping Norwegian Policy towards Somalia, Foreign Policy Analysis 1(1): 136–154.
Horst, Cindy & Carmen Geha (2019) Exporting 'active citizenship': foreign support for citizenship education in the Arab world, Citizenship Studies 23(5): 486–501.
Horst, Cindy (2018) Making a difference in Mogadishu? Experiences of multi-sited embeddedness among diaspora youth, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 44(8): 1341–1356.
Horst, Cindy (2018) Forced migration: morality and politics, Ethnic and Racial Studies 41(3): 440–447.
Horst, Cindy & Anab Nur (2016) Governing Mobility through Humanitarianism in Somalia: Compromising Protection for the Sake of Return, Development and Change 47(3): 542–562.
Horst, Cindy & Giulia Sinatti (2015) Migrants as agents of development: Diaspora engagement discourse and practice in Europe, Ethnicities 15(1): 134–152.
Grabska, Katarzyna & Cindy Horst (2015) Flight and Exile — Uncertainty in the Context of Conflict-induced displacement, Social Analysis: Journal of Cultural and Social Practice 59(1): 1–18.
Erdal, Marta Bivand; Cindy Horst; Jørgen Carling & Karin Fathimath Afeef (2014) Private money, public scrutiny? Contrasting perspectives on remittances, Global Networks 14(4): 514–532.
Horst, Cindy (2013) The Depoliticisation of Diasporas from the Horn of Africa: From Refugees to Transnational Aid Workers, African Studies 72(2): 228–245.
Carling, Jørgen; Marta Bivand Erdal & Cindy Horst (2012) How does Conflict in Migrants’ Country of Origin Affect Remittance-Sending? Financial Priorities and Transnational Obligations Among Somalis and Pakistanis in Norway, International Migration Review 46(2): 283–309.
Fadnes, Ellen & Cindy Horst (2009) Responses to Internal Displacement in Colombia: Guided by What Principles?, Refuge: Canada’s Journal on Refugees 26(1): 111–120.
Horst, Cindy (2008) The Transnational Political Engagements of Refugees: Remittance Sending Practices amongst Somalis in Norway, Conflict, Security and Development 8(3): 31–339.
Horst, Cindy (2008) A Monopoly on Assistance? International Aid to Refugee Camps and the Role of the Diaspora, Afrika Spectrum 43(1): 121–131.
Horst, Cindy (2006) Buufis amongst Somalis in Dadaab: The Transnational and Historical Logics Behind Resettlement Dreams, Journal of Refugee Studies 19(2): 143–157.
Horst, Cindy (2006) Refugee livelihoods: Continuity and Transformations, Refugee Survey Quarterly 25(2): 6–22.

Monograph

Horst, Cindy (2006) Transnational Nomads: How Somalis Cope with Refugee Life in the Dadaab Camps of Kenya. Oxford & New York: Berghahn.

Book Chapter

Horst, Cindy (2020) Collective hope in dark times: Refugee political agency influencing migration trajectories, in Vezzoli, Simona; & Hein de Haas, eds, Renewing the migration debate. Building disciplinary and geographical bridges to explain global migration. Amsterdam: The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and the International Migration Institute (IMI) (66–71).
Horst, Cindy (2019) Refugees, Peacebuilding, and the Anthropology of the Good, in Milner, James; Blair Peruniak; & Megan Bradley, eds, Refugees' Roles in Resolving Displacement and Building Peace: Beyond Beneficiaries. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press (39–54).
Pailey, Robtel; Cindy Horst & Stephen Lubkemann (2016) The Invisibility of a Third Humanitarian Domain, in Sezgin, Zeynep; & Dennis Dijkzeul, eds, The New Humanitarians in International Practice: Emerging actors and contested principles. London: Routledge (213–231).
Horst, Cindy & Mulki Al-Sharmani (2016) Marginal actors? Diaspora Somalis Negotiate Their Citizenship, in Haverinen, Ville-Samuli; Päivi Harinen; & Pirkkoliisa Ahponen, eds, Dislocations of Civic Cultural Borderlines: Methodological Nationalism, Transnational Reality and Cosmopolitan Dreams. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing (107–122).
Horst, Cindy; Godfried Engbersen & Erik Snel (2015) Beyond networks: Insights on feedback and mechanisms of the middle range, in Beyond Networks: Feedback in International Migration. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (231–246).
Horst, Cindy; Olivia Sheringham & Sonia Pereira (2015) The Impact of Class on Feedback Mechanisms: Brazilian Migration to Norway, Portugal and the United Kingdom, in Beyond Networks: Feedback in International Migration. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (90–112).
Friberg, Jon Horgen & Cindy Horst (2014) RDS and the Structure of Migrant Populations, in Johnston, Lisa; & Guri Tyldum, eds, Applying Respondent Driven Sampling to Migrant Populations. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Ezzati, Rojan Tordhol & Cindy Horst (2014) Norwegian collaboration with diasporas, in Laakso, Liisa; & Petri Hautaniemi, eds, Diasporas, Development and Peacemaking in the Horn of Africa. London/New York: Zed Books.
Horst, Cindy (2013) International Aid to Refugees in Kenya: The Neglected Role of the Somali Diaspora, in Leedy, Todd; & Abdoulaye Kane, eds, African Migrations: Patterns and Perspectives. Indiana: Indiana University Press (195–210).
Zetter, Roger & Cindy Horst (2012) Chapter 2: Vulnerability and Protection: reducing risks and promoting security for forced migrants, in World Disaster Report 2012. Geneva: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (46–79).
Horst, Cindy (2007) The Role of Remittances in the Transnational Livelihood Strategies of Somalis, in Global Migration and Development. London: .
Horst, Cindy (2007) Connected Lives: Somalis in Minneapolis Dealing with Family Responsibilities and Migration Dreams of Relatives, in Somalia: Diaspora and State Reconstitution in the Horn of Africa. London: Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd (89–101).
Horst, Cindy (2007) The Somali Community in Minneapolis: Expectations and Realities, in From Mogadishu to Dixon: the Somali Diaspora in a Global Context. Trenton, NJ: The Red Sea Press.

Edited Volume

Engbersen, Godfried; Lucinda Fonseca; Oliver Bakewell; & Cindy Horst, eds, (2015) Beyond Networks: Feedback in International Migration. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Non-refereed Journal Article

Horst, Cindy (2015) Somalia’s hope for the future? The return of young Diaspora Somalis, Horn of Africa Bulletin 27(5): 12–17.

Popular Article

Jumbert, Maria Gabrielsen & Cindy Horst (2015) En byrde ingen vil bære [A burden no one wants to bear], Dagsavisen, 16 June.
Horst, Cindy (2012) Finding protection from violent conflict and famine?, Sarvi. Horn of Africa Journal, 8 December.
Horst, Cindy (2012) En trygg havn? [A safe haven?], Dagbladet, 3 July.
Carling, Jørgen; Rojan Tordhol Ezzati; Cindy Horst & Marta Bivand Erdal (2010) Bidrar 'her' og 'der' [Contribute 'here' and 'there'], Aftenposten, 8 November.
Erdal, Marta Bivand & Cindy Horst (2010) Ekskludert fra utvikling? [Excluded from Development?], Dagsavisen, 29 July.
Gaas, Mohamed Husein; Marta Bivand Erdal & Cindy Horst (2008) Tvunget til lovbrudd [Forced to Break the Law], Dagbladet, 2 April.
Horst, Cindy (2007) Somaliere i Norge: Krigere eller velgjørere? [Somalis in Norway: Warriors or Benefactors?], Dagbladet, 18 January.

PRIO Report

Horst, Cindy; Jørgen Carling; Hilde Wallacher; & Marta Bivand Erdal (2007) Legal, Rapid and Reasonably Priced? A Survey of Remittance Services in Norway, PRIO Report, 3. Oslo: PRIO.

Conference Paper

Horst, Cindy (2007) A Monopoly on Assistance? International Aid to Refugee Camps and the Role of the Diaspora, presented at AEGIS Conference, Leiden, 11 July.

PRIO Policy Brief

Aden, Hassan & Cindy Horst (2022) From Refugees to Citizens? Rethinking Refugee Education Dilemmas, PRIO Policy Brief, 13. Oslo: PRIO.
Aden, Hassan; Cindy Horst; Marte Nilsen & Gudrun Østby (2022) What Can We Learn from Refugee-Led Education in Kenya?, PRIO Policy Brief, 14. Oslo: PRIO.
Horst, Cindy; Marta Bivand Erdal; Jørgen Carling & Mathias Hatleskog Tjønn (2020) Diaspora, Development and Integration: A Review of Policies and Practice, PRIO Policy Brief, 5. Oslo: PRIO.
Horst, Cindy (2019) Tapping into ‘the New We’: Migrant Civic and Political Participation in Norway, PRIO Policy Brief, 14. Oslo: PRIO.
Erdal, Marta Bivand & Cindy Horst (2018) What is Diversity?, PRIO Policy Brief, 12. Oslo: PRIO.
Jama, Nasra & Cindy Horst (2016) Khayraadka daryeelka caafimaadka Somaliland: Heer Caalami ilaa kan Bulshada [Resources for Health Care in Somaliland: From the International to the Communal?], PRIO Policy Brief, 23. Oslo: PRIO.
Horst, Cindy & Nasra Jama (2016) Resources for Health Care in Somaliland: From the International to the Communal?, PRIO Policy Brief, 23. Oslo: PRIO.
Horst, Cindy & Tove Heggli Sagmo (2015) Humanitarianism and Return: Compromising Protection?, PRIO Policy Brief, 3. Oslo: PRIO.
Horst, Cindy (2015) Back in Business? Diaspora Return to Somalia, PRIO Policy Brief, 5. Oslo: PRIO.
Horst, Cindy & Mohamed Husein Gaas (2009) Diaspora Organizations from the Horn of Africa in Norway: Contributions to Peacebuilding?, PRIO Policy Brief, 2. Oslo: PRIO.
Horst, Cindy (2008) Diaspora Engagements in Development Cooperation, PRIO Policy Brief, 8. Oslo: PRIO.

PRIO Paper

Carling, Jørgen; Mathias Hatleskog Tjønn; Cindy Horst & Marta Bivand Erdal (2020) Integration and Development: Need for Dialogue, PRIO Paper. Oslo: PRIO.
Horst, Cindy; Marta Bivand Erdal; Jørgen Carling & Cathrine Talleraas (2018) Defining Sustainable Migration, PRIO Paper. Oslo: PRIO.
Ezzati, Rojan Tordhol; Cindy Horst & Jørgen Carling (2010) Immigration to Norway from Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Morocco and Ukraine, PRIO Paper. Oslo: PRIO.
Erdal, Marta Bivand & Cindy Horst (2010) Engaging Diasporas in Development. A Review of Pilot Project Pakistan, PRIO Paper. Oslo: PRIO.

Report - External Series

Baumbach, Brandon; Cindy Horst; Sundus Osman; Marian Hussein; Hawa Muuse; & Faiza Kassim Ibrahim (2013) Somalis in Oslo, Somalis in European Cities. New York: Open Society Foundations.
Horst, Cindy (2006) Connected Lives. Somalis in Minneapolis: Family Responsibilities and the Migration Dreams of Relatives, 0. Geneva.