Root Causes of Irregular Migration in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Case of Afghans and Syrians

Abstract This chapter evaluates the initiation and perpetuation of migratory flows from Afghanistan and Syria to Europe, which operate through the Eastern Mediterranean corridor over the decades. It links the notion of root causes of migration to the fragile or weak statehood and protracted refugee situations. While the concepts of “root causes” and “fragile or weak state” may be contested, they hold analytical value as they relate to various aspects of irregular migration systems between the Global North and Global South. Due to the scarcity of research on the relationship between weak statehood, refugee flows, and irregular migration, and their implications on migratory systems between the Global South and Global North, exploring this connection through an analytical framework applied to selected case studies becomes a critical research area. The selected cases, namely migration flows from Afghanistan and Syria to Europe via the Eastern Mediterranean, offer a framework for better understanding the root causes of irregular migratory flows that impact the broader geography of the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe. Therefore, by focusing on weak statehood, this chapter explores the dynamics and mechanisms of root causes of irregular migration and asylum flows. It aims to explain why and how people choose specific routes over time. The ongoing debate on this topic also helps assess policy outcomes for the effective governance of irregular migration and refugee flows.