The main causes of migration in the Middle East: Is migration predominantly caused by armed conflicts?

Abstract

This diploma thesis deals with the causes of migration with a special focus on the relationship between international irregular migration and armed conflicts. The first part of the thesis consists of a short overview on the security challenges in the 21st century as a method of approach to the migration topic. Engaging the issue, I clear first the definition then overview the common causes of migration in the Middle East, my geographical area of research. Using Lee's theory of migration, I identify the main push and pull factors behind an individual's or group's decision to leave the homeland. The main part of dissertation deals with the armed conflicts in the Middle East and its effect on the volume of migration. Investigating the different aspects of the topic I narrow my research to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, and the Palestinian territory. In the last part of the dissertation through a descriptive analysis of two case studies I apply Lee's theory to show the chain process that led to the today experienced large-scale migration of Syrian and Iraqi people. As a conclusion, the research question addressed by stating that in the Middle East from the many push factors of migration the armed conflict represents the greatest threat.