In the face of revolution : the Libyan civil war and migration politics in southern Europe

Abstract

Revolutionary protests have spread across North Africa and the Middle East since what was dubbed as the ‘Arab Spring’ first erupted in Tunisia in December 2010. As these popular movements emerge with varying degrees of success across other countries, they have prompted new migratory flows out of the region. Those lucky enough to have the resources have secured air travel out of the region. Holiday makers, for instance, concluded their stays in Egyptian resorts prematurely, and chartered airplanes evacuated oil workers from their rigs in the Sahara Desert. However, in much larger numbers, others have been forced to make their way across land to neighbouring countries. A small fraction of those unable to secure air travel have chosen to board boats, especially from Libya and Tunisia, and made their way across the Mediterranean to Europe in search of security.