The role of narratives in migratory decision-making : The role of narratives in onward migration of Afghan nationals from Istanbul to Europe Jan-Paul Brekke, Kjersti Thorbjørnsrud [Recurso electrónico]

Bibliografía: p. 48-51

Information is a key element in the decision-making process for refugees and migrants considering moving on from a transit situation. This report explores how personal experiences of Afghan refugees and migrants residing in Turkey and their access to networked information sources, together form their dominant narrative of onward migration. Further, the report investigates how Afghan migrants’ narrative of migration relates to and contrasts with the main messages of EU-funded government information campaigns targeting potential migrants. The report is based on qualitative interviews with 46 Afghan refugees and migrants from all social strata. Most of these had left Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August 2021.

Explored through the lens of the migrants’ local narratives, the report presents central factors that influence migrants’ decisions to stay in Turkey versus move on to Europe, including their access to resources and networks, specificity of destination, and access to smugglers. The report also discusses the alternatives to moving on.