Why migration will continue: Aspirations and capabilities of Syrians and Ethiopians with different educational backgrounds

Abstract

This paper presents the argument that the so-called migration crisis that started in the summer of 2015 was not an unexpected sudden phenomenon, and that it is likely to continue in the future. Following the framework of aspirations and capabilities that Hein de Haas’ work suggested, we will investigate migration motives looking at migration from Syria and Ethiopia. While the problems in Syria continue, countries around Syria are overloaded with refugees without sustainable opportunities. The migration from Africa is bound to persist, due to population pressure, poverty but also changing aspirations related to development. Based on meetings with Syrians and Ethiopians, we will show that there is actually a continuum of limited possibilities for them to achieve the satisfactory life they aspire to. Adding education levels to our analysis improves insight into why different groups move. We conclude that the potential for migration is only increasing.