Syrian refugees and other Syrian forced migrants in Jordan: forms of capital approach

Abstract

The article explored human, social, and economic capital of Syrian refugees and other Syrian forced migrants in Jordan. Interrelations of their human, social, and economic forms of capital affected their everyday lives in Jordan as well as their future migration aspirations. The data consisted of a semi-structured survey among 408 Syrian refugees and other forced Syrian migrants in Jordan. Varied combinations of these forms of capital significantly impacted the well-being of these Syrians in the host state. Those who consolidated human capital and possessed dispersed and open social networks created coping strategies through education and employment that were more likely to be effective, and they considered immigrating to countries that are more developed. Syrians who lacked capital stocks in Jordan often found themselves at the risk of poverty, immobility or forced return to their ruined livelihoods in Syria. The article debunked the myth about powerlessness and passiveness of refugees and other forced migrants and drew attention to their agency and assets. Their levels of vulnerability in the host country significantly varied among individuals with different capital stocks. The authors provided policy recommendations on empowerment of these increasingly vulnerable migrants.