Afghans' migration routes and urban insertion strategies: The example of Van, Istanbul, and Paris

Afghanistan has been a source of internal and transnational mobility for over 50 years. The journeys of Afghans, who attempt to reach various countries by crossing thousands of kilometers and whose mobility has become a culture, are largely irregular due to the international migration regime. This study aims to understand the complex and dynamic structure of irregular Afghan migration, which occupies a significant place in Turkey and France. It focuses on the experiences of migrants along the migration routes from Afghanistan to Turkey and France, the structural obstacles they face and the strategies they develop in the cities. The study analyzes migration routes and urban insertion strategies in the cities of Van, Istanbul and Paris, and is based on data analysis from over a hundred interviews with various actors (mainly Afghan migrants, smugglers, academics, migration experts, employees of security units, NGO representatives, journalists and local populations), observations in urban spaces and an in-depth review of literature on irregular migration. The research reveals that migration is not just spatial mobility, but also a complex process shaped by social relations, state policies and the global migration regime. As a result, the irregular journeys and itineraries of Afghans are indeterminate in duration, cyclical and fragmented. Infrastructure, socio-economic opportunities, the reception capacities of cities, the migration policies of states, the attitudes of local populations and the solidarity networks of Afghan communities influence urban insertion strategies and the future continuity of mobility. This study, which focuses on the problems faced by irregular migrants both in urban spaces and along the mobility continuum, highlights that migration policies should be broadened to include not only final settlement, but also the dynamics experienced on migration routes and intermediate spaces. The thesis provides a resource for states, international organizations and NGOs to develop policies and solutions from different perspectives in order to develop practices that will make migration processes safer and more regular.