Understanding chronic mass Afghan migration

• Published in: International migration Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 258 - 261
• Main Author: Toros, Atilla
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Forced migration; Industrial production; Internal migration; International community; Labor force; Labor migration; Legislation; Political asylum; Refugees
• DOI: 10.1111/imig.12956
• ISSN: 0020-7985

Chronic mass migration from Afghanistan (Afghan migration), which began in the 1980s with more than six million refugees fleeing the country, is one of the largest migrations in history (Van Hear et al., 2009). Marked by its 'chronic' and 'mass influx' characteristics, this migration has affected Afghans, neighbouring countries, and communities, as well as near and far geographies, and will continue to do so based on recent developments. It is clear that different approaches other than the current paradigm will be needed to understand and manage all aspects of current or future Afghan migration. As the international system lacks binding legislation and mechanisms regarding mass migration and asylum movements, it fails to produce solutions and continues to act within the framework of goodwill statements and contriving different ways to counter each emergent issue. In addition, integrated global migration management networks have also not been established further complicating efforts to respond to cases of mass migration. In this context, monitoring the attitude of Iran, which has been subject to Afghan migration for more than 40 years and is located on the Turkey-Europe migration route, and following its trends and practices are as important for the international community as it is for Turkey and the European Union (EU). In addition, it is necessary to recognize that it is neither possible to understand the mass migrations of the Global South from the perspective of academic studies that examine the 'migration states' of the Global North, which focus on labour migration nor can this forced migration be understood from a labour force perspective,