Migration Network Theory in relation to Afghanistan.

Migration network theory deals with the linkage between the international migrants between the sending and receiving states. This theory is based upon the belief that there should be a prior linkage between the sending and receiving countries which results in migration from one country to another. The linkage may be due to colonization, occupation, recruitment, family ties, cultural ties etc. (Castle and Miller 2009, p.28). Now I will try to describe this theory in relation to Afghanistan.

Background:

Afghanistan has either been colonized or occupied by foreign forces from long back in the history. It is an area which contains the perpetual conflict. Afghanistan is a land-locked country with almost all people of Muslim religion. Badly rammed with conflict from a long time this country lacks basic infrastructures of development and the soil there is infertile to cultivate. So the farmers there grow poppy plants and sell them in drug market to make their living.

In 1979, USSR occupied this area and installed a puppet regime there. This was challenged later by Mujhahiddins (Afghan rebels) for a long time and USSR was compelled to back off. (Whittaker 2006, p.102). This long term conflict caused 6 million afghan refugees to take shelter mainly in Iran and Pakistan. The occupation of USSR was succeeded by Taliban which started a dreadful regime in the name of sharia law. Taliban was then overthrown by the occupation of US army with a support of NATO alliance after 2001 and the conflict still remains (Whitttaker 2006 p.103-104). The US led attack in Afghanistan not only resulted to a dreadful conflict in the area, it also increased the unemployed population because the NATO alliance did not favor the plantation of poppy plants. Loss of income in addition to the conflict compelled a high number of populations to flee outside the national boarder.  Millions of people have been displaced till this date to different countries in the world in which Iran and Pakistan are the major receivers of Afghan refugees.

Macro Structures:

According to migration network theory, migration is accelerated by a number of reasons. Inter-state relationship, laws, social and cultural practices, historical and institutional relations etc. play an important role in determining the migration ratio (Castle and Miller 2009, p.28). Pakistan and Iran are the boarder nations of Afghanistan so these two areas were anytime accessible to the Afghan refugees during the time of conflict. In addition to this, the “Open door” policy of Muslim states for the Muslim refugees was another big reason they welcomed the Afghans to their land (Whittaker 2006,p.105).

Micro Structures:

Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan all are Muslim countries with almost same type of cultural and religious values so there was no problem of assimilation of culture and religious traditions. The historical approach shows that these countries did not have any type of tensions with Afghanistan, so the friendly environment was also of a great help (Castles and Miller 2009, p.28).

Afghans shared the same type of beliefs, traditions and geography with the people of Pakistan and Iran, so they want to flee to these countries where they will not have to make a tension with the people there. Some refugees were able to find employment opportunities in cities of Pakistan and Iran where they could earn their livelihood (Whittaker 2006, p.106).

The family linkage of refugees with the people already living in the host country is another important factor which accelerates migration to that area. These types of links often help the individual to receive all types of help needed to go and settle in that area. The relatives and family members of Afghan people who have entered these countries long time before were also able to help the Afghans to settle in Pakistan and Iran (Castles and Miller 2009, 29).

Mesho-Structures:

When a third party plays a role of mediation between the refugees and hosting states to help them solve the problems and help refugees to get a better life, this type of mediator or mediation institution comes under mesho- structure (Castles and Miller 2009, 29). After US occupation of Afghanistan in 2001, the refugees were entering to Iran and Pakistan in a very big number. For a certain time both countries accepted the refugees but when the number became very high they were unable to handle the burden of the refugees. So they had to seal the boarder and did not let any more refugees to enter their territory. The Afghans had now nowhere to go. Then UNHCR came to stage to end this refugee problem which resulted in agreement between Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan to help the return of the refugees to their homeland. For this they had to generate economic opportunities, a sense of security and other things of facilitations for the refugees.

Conclusion:

The case of Afghanistan shows that the migration ethics are affected by all the structures. Macro, Micro and Mesho –structures are inter-linked with each other and there is no definite boarder between them. So it is very difficult to find out why a person leaves his country and what the causes are he chooses the country of destination. To understand this we should have to study all the factors, because explanation by a single is not sufficient (Castles and Miller 2009, 30).

Bibliography:

Castles, Stephen, and Mark J. Miller. "Theories of Migration." The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World. 4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009. 21-35. Print.

Whittaker, David J. "Case Study 4 - Afghanistan." Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the Contemporary World. 1st ed. London: Routledge, 2006. 101-10. Print.