Mixed (ar)rivals: Perceptions of threat, inequality, and the risk of violence between different (forced) migrant groups in North Africa

Introduction

Host communities often perceive certain refugee or migrant groups as more ‘threatening’ (e.g. security or employment) than others. This can be seen from the recent arrivals of Ukrainian refugees in Europe, but also in many other regions of the world.

Regional Examples

In Morocco, for example, Sub-Saharan migrants are less favored than others. Unequal treatment by nationality, ethnicity, or time of arrival regarding status, access to employment, or residence is often the consequence.

Research Questions

Yet, little is known about what impact this has for inter-migrant group relations. Key questions include:

1. How do (forced) migrant groups perceive other migrant group arrivals?
2. Do they consider each other as potential rivals, competitors, or threats?
3. What factors increase or decrease inter-migrant group rivalries, and when might they turn violent or rather solidary?

Methodology

MixedRivals applies a novel interdisciplinary approach by analyzing:

• Structural factors (e.g. exclusionary policies)
• Socio-psychological factors (e.g. perceptions of threat, positive contact, and group identification)

This approach brings together theories on inter-group relations from migration, violent conflict, rivalry, and psychology.

Conceptual Framework

MixedRivals moves beyond the common host-migrant focus and pushes the conceptual boundaries of:

• Rivalry
• Refugee/migrant
• Violence/non-violence
• Liberal/restrictive policies

It introduces the concept of “mixed rivalries,” underlining the complex and multi-dimensional nature of possible contestations between migrant groups.

Data Collection

Using a mixed-method approach, the project will furnish new cross-sectional survey and qualitative data on inter-migrant group perceptions of threat and inequality in four urban hubs in North Africa. It will also analyze de facto (forced) migration policy data.

Project Goals

The project aims at advancing the understanding of inter-migrant group relations at a time when North Africa is becoming a major destination for mixed ar(rivals) at the intersection between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.