Local Tensions under the “Refugee Crisis”: The Rise of Xenophobia in Chios after the EU-Turkey Statement of 2016

Abstract

The north-eastern Aegean island of Chios became renown as a transit zone and a welcoming place for thousands of asylum seekers, who were passing through the island on their way to Northern Europe, in the summer of 2015. However, their movement was put into a halt after the EU-Turkey Statement of March 2016, which led to thousands of asylum seekers getting trapped in the Greek islands. A number of contentious events followed in Chios, including a port occupation by asylum seekers, a massive demonstration organized by locals, and violent xenophobic attacks against the asylum seekers. Therefore, this paper examines the hypothesis that the EU-Turkey Statement led to the rise of xenophobia in Chios. It also documents and analyses some of the key events that followed, taking into consideration the concepts of border regime and border externalization, based on a mixed qualitative approach including data from the local press, in-depth semi-structured interviews, and participatory observation.

Trends of Migration Transformations in the Countries of the European Union and the Russian Federation: Identification of Predictors of Migration Processes in the Context of Migration Policy and Public Administration

“…For example, an increase in theft after obtaining official refugee status, as well as a significant migration of people with a low educational status (the second correlation model) with no hope of getting a job in the target country of migration. This statement is consistent with existing research (Souzas et al, 2020;Vargová, 2018). The example of Greece and Turkey during the manifestation of the refugee crisis is especially indicative (Souzas et al, 2020).…”

“…This statement is consistent with existing research (Souzas et al, 2020;Vargová, 2018). The example of Greece and Turkey during the manifestation of the refugee crisis is especially indicative (Souzas et al, 2020). In general, migration can be argued that migration is driven by rational factors and sober economic calculation to an insignificant extent and more dependent on expectations and irrational hopes and unverified information (Gibson et al, 2020;Kone et al, 2020).…”