War in Iraq : Environment of Insecurity and International Migration

This paper discusses possible relations between conflict and international migration, with specific reference to the most recent war in Iraq. Iraqi international migration trends are examined to ascertain the potential influence of war on migration. Conflict situations have been prevalent in Iraq for more than two decades, the roots of which can be traced back to 1979 when Saddam Hussein became the President of Iraq. Iraqi history, in the last quarter of a century, has been characterized by wars and post-war crises, which have subsequently triggered ethnic tensions. It is these ethnic tensions, I will argue, which facilitated international migration from Iraq. It is the overall instability associated with conflict which often leads to increasing tensions among different ethnic groups, such as Kurds, Turkmen, Shiites, and Sunnis. Ethnic conflict situations can result in a general environment of insecurity, which may serve as an quot;opportunity frameworkquot; for those already harbouring individual migration quot;plans.quot; It is western European countries which will be particularly influenced by these potential migration movements. During periods of conflict, Iraqis have established migration networks, and formed significantly sized immigrant communities in the West. It is these networks which will also serve as facilitating factors for the potential ethnic migration of some Iraqis