Words Matter
A plain-language glossary for the words that shape public life.
Political Systems & Ideologies
Government structures and political philosophies that shape how power is distributed, who makes decisions, and how authority is justified. These terms are often used loosely. This section pins down their actual meanings and explains how they function in practice.
Gentrification
The process where investment and rising property values transform a neighborhood, often causing displacement of long-term residents. Gentrification involves economic change, demographic shifts, and cultural impacts, with benefits and burdens distributed unevenly.
Repatriation
Repatriation is returning a person to their country of origin. It can be voluntary, involuntary, or part of a humanitarian process. For refugees, voluntary repatriation is only appropriate when conditions allow safe and dignified return.
Voluntary Return
When a migrant or asylum seeker chooses to return to their home country with support from authorities or organizations. It differs from deportation because consent is required, though choices may be shaped by limited options.
Remigration
Remigration refers to returning to one’s country of origin after living abroad, either voluntarily or involuntarily. It can involve personal choice, government-supported return programs, or removal decisions. In political discourse, the term is sometimes used as a slogan for mass return of certain groups, which differs from its literal meaning.
Resettlement
The process of transferring refugees from a country of first asylum to a third country that offers permanent protection. Resettlement is voluntary and reserved for refugees who cannot remain safely where they are. Only a small share of refugees are ever resettled.
Asylum Seeker
An asylum seeker is someone who has fled their home country and is requesting protection but has not yet been legally recognized as a refugee. Their case is reviewed through a legal process to determine whether they meet refugee criteria. Seeking asylum is a legal right, and asylum seekers cannot be returned to danger while their claims are pending.
Refugee
A refugee is a person who has fled their home country because of persecution, conflict, or violence and cannot safely return. Refugee status is defined under international law and requires a well-founded fear tied to specific protected grounds. Refugees do not migrate by choice; they seek protection because remaining at home poses serious risk. The term often appears in debates about borders, humanitarian responsibility, and asylum systems.