The state of the art in practices and theories in “people on the move”

The phenomenon of displaced populations – though as old as humanity itself – has taken on new dimensions in the contemporary context, encapsulated by the term “people on the move.” This article examines the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon, encompassing various groups such as migrants, refugees, and stateless individuals. Employing a methodological approach grounded in metadata analysis and text mining, the study aims to uncover the theoretical foundations and practical applications within this field of knowledge. The sample comprises 40 documents published over the past decade: 20 peer-reviewed journal articles, selected via the Publish or Perish tool and accounting for approximately 70% of total citations of the set of 100 documents retrieved, and 20 reports from intergovernmental organizations and NGOs, included to ensure representation of key intergovernmental and NGOs perspectives. The analysis revealed a conceptual framework that maps the interrelated theories and practices shaping discourse and action around displaced populations.