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Pinar

Pinar Dinc

Researcher

Pinar

Syrian farmers in the midst of drought and conflict: the causes, patterns, and aftermath of land abandonment and migration

Author

  • Pinar Dinc
  • Lina Eklund

Summary, in English

The prevailing narrative on the Syrian Civil War attributes it to climate-induced migration resulting from a severe drought, which serves as a central link connecting climate change with the 2011 protests. However, limited research has involved interviews with Syrians, with most studies focusing on drought's meteorological aspects and estimated migrant numbers. Our interdisciplinary study we conduct surveys with 82 former Syrian farmers in Turkey, carry out 16 in-depth interviews, and analyse satellite images to explore land use activities. Our objective is to answer three questions: (1) How can we distinguish between 'forced displacement' and 'migration as an adaptive response' during the 2007–2009 drought in Syria and the subsequent civil war? (2) How do drought, land abandonment, and migration interact in Syria since 2006? (3) How can we enhance understanding of 'trapped' individuals, considering mobility restrictions in host countries rather than solely immobility in the country of origin? Our findings are threefold: firstly, Syrian farmers employed adaptive measures against drought before the war; secondly, land abandonment during the drought was less extensive than portrayed in literature linking climate, migration, and conflict; and finally, we emphasize that refugees may feel trapped even after leaving their homes.

Department/s

  • Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES)
  • Department of Political Science
  • MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World
  • Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate

Publishing year

2024

Language

English

Pages

349-362

Publication/Series

Climate and Development

Volume

16

Issue

5

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Topic

  • Human Geography
  • International Migration and Ethnic Relations
  • Climate Research

Keywords

  • drought
  • armed conflict
  • migration
  • land abandonment
  • climate adaptation
  • trapped population
  • Syria
  • Turkey

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1756-5529