Armed conflict, violence, and the decision to migrate: explaining the determinants of displacement in Syria

ABSTRACT

Instead of regarding violence as a homogenous event, this article deconstructs the violence in Syria through Galtung’s concept of structural violence in order to understand the impact it has on the decision to move at a disaggregated level. It outlines the determinants of migration processes in Syria, relying on semi-structured interviews. By doing so, this research aims at enhancing the understanding of the determinants of forced displacement and migration patterns in response to violence. The research shows that enduring structural violence profoundly affects individuals` decision to leave their homes and become refugees. Beyond actual violence per se, refugee movements from Syria to neighbouring countries are linked to the gradual increase in structural violence, as well as proximate conditions and intervening factors. While pointing direct and actual violence as a determinant of internal displacement, this research also highlights that individuals forced to abandon their homes are not passive victims of the conflict.

KEYWORDS:

• Armed conflict
• structural violence
• forced migration
• displacement
• migration determinants
• Syria

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Giacomo Orsini for the guidance and advice he has provided throughout the research, as well as the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments. I am particularly grateful to the participants of this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.