Patterns and directions of exile migration from Iraq in the period 1990-2003: a systemic approach

Géraldine Chatelard (1)

1 IFPO - Institut Français du Proche-Orient

Combining the findings of published sources and of original research, this article attempts to put in relations a series of factors at the macro and meso levels so as to produce an evolving but coherent picture of the directions and stages of Iraqi exile migration, of the settlement patterns of migrants, and of their sociological profile at various stages of the migration process, starting from Iraq. The period covered extends from the 1990-1991 Gulf War until the fall of the Ba'thist regime in April 2003. Attention is given to the political, economic and societal factors in Iraq that may be identified as the primary determinants of emigration. A second element of the system considered is that of the migration and asylum policies and practices in regional and distant countries of emigration. Finaally, the intermediary level of social networks is factored in the analysis.

Mots clés: Iraq; international migration; refugees; migration system

Domaines: Sociologie

Géraldine Chatelard. Patterns and directions of exile migration from Iraq in the period 1990-2003: a systemic approach. 2003. ⟨hal-00338356⟩