Political and Humanitarian Responses to Syrian Displacement

This book is about Syrian displacement since the start of the 2011 conflict. It provides general information on displacement (the scale, scope and trends), as well as in-depth analysis on how it affects regional politics; the role of international organizations responding to the displaced; and EU/US responses to Syrian displacement. It relates Syrian displacement to broader peace strategies, arguing that displacement is not a mere symptom or byproduct of the conflict in Syria, but a key variable that must be addressed with any peace plan or strategy for ending the conflict and rebuilding Syria. Thus, the way refugees and other displaced persons are dealt with is not just a humanitarian concern, but also a political, security and economic issue.

The author informs policymakers about the current Syrian displacement situation, helping to make sense of the complex web of media reports and rhetoric on Syrian refugees/IDPs. She maps, interprets and contextualizes the current literature, while also shedding light on the political and humanitarian responses through the use of interviews.

There are few books solely devoted to the current Syrian refugee crisis, although there are a large number of media reports, NGO/IO/UN reports, research briefs, workshop reports, and scholarly articles relating to Syrian displacement in some way. This book compiles their insights in useful ways and builds on them in its final argument and policy guidance – that Syrian displacement must be a central part of peacemaking.

Sarah Deardorff Miller is an Adjunct Faculty member in the School of International Service at the American University in Washington DC, USA.