Social Study of Disappearance Lab

In international law, the definition of forced disappearance has three elements: deprivation of liberty, involvement of government officials, including through acquiescence, and concealment of the whereabouts of a disappeared person. The Social Study of Disappearance Lab explores the deep social, political, and economic implications of forced disappearance as both a phenomenon and a method of governance. By analyzing cases of disappearance around the world, our lab investigates how these practices reveal shifting state capacities, the influence of criminal networks, and the socio-political impact on affected communities. 

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