Final Research Report
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MRA #3: Final Research Report
Name/Student#: Course Code:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
(a) Core Problem.
The issue social issue I have investigated is migration, particularly, concerning the flow and
settlement of Syrian migrants throughout Europe. Research indicates that many Syrians are unable to
settle properly within multiple European states, including Greece. Many, at the loss of their entire life
savings, statehood, shelter, and protection now also experience further restrictions on their settlement
within Greece based on a plethora of factors; namely, the Greek state does not want Syrian migrants to
settle within its borders and has acted politically in order to limit their entry… […]
(b) Needs Modification
The reason it is pertinent to address the aforementioned issue is both that the Syrians are an
extremely vulnerable and at-risk population – as they are refugees – and also, that the Greek state is acting
unjustly towards them. Such persons have no other resource except to be forced out of Greece and have
to find a new residence within Europe. The Greek state acts to limit the flow of refugees in three ways: (1)
due to political bargaining, Greece has promised Turkey backing for it to join with EU, whilst the latter
ensures no Syrians reach Greek isles or borders; (2) Greece consciously and purposely fails to maintain the
quality of its welfare institution, thereby forcing Syrians into subpar conditions with meagre support; and
finally, (3) there is a culture of xenophobia and racism that sees Syrians as both inferior and threats, which
permit the Greek state to use its monopoly on force to violently limit their entrance. […]
(c) Recommendation for Action
In order to resolve this matter, the EU should play a greater oversight role in terms of checking
Greek behavior and policy. It should: (1) dissever the political commitment between Greek and Turkey,
thereby allowing migrants to flow freely in and out of these states; (2) Provide additional funding for
Greece to maintain and upgrade its healthcare system; and (3) limit Greek state brutality against Syrians
by putting state officers on review. […]
PART I: CONTEXT OF PROBLEM AND EXISTING SOLUTIONS
(a) Statement of Problem The issue is one dealing with migration; specifically, the migrant flows of Syrians across Europe and their inability to settle in places such as Greece. Specifically, the Greece state is actively trying to limit the intake of Syrian refugees through both political and institutional channels… […] (b) Overview of Root Causes The issue arises based on three main factors deciphered through research: (1) due to political bargaining, Greece has promised Turkey backing for it to join with EU; (2) Greece consciously and purposely fails to maintain the quality of its welfare institution; and finally, (3) there is a culture of xenophobia and racism that sees Syrians as both inferior and threats… […]
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(c) Inadequacy of Current Approaches Research indicates that current solutions to this problem are failing. This is because X (amount) of Syrians are still being forced out of Greece, whilst the number of Syrians entering Greece from the period of 2018-2020 is steadily declined, from X amount to X amount. This demonstrates that current approaches are not effective in combating the issue. This is because most of the either do not do enough to assist Syrians, or do not problem address the problem itself. For example, currently, the EU in its most recent General Meeting of Member States (GMMS 2020) expressed concern that many Syrians were being forced out. This is good, as it properly identifies the issue. However, the Assembly of States merely expressed that the Greek state should change its behavior and policy without any oversight to see if this actually happened, or any pressure whatsoever on Greece. Accordingly, the Greek state continues to restrict entry to Syrians as the measure forwarded by GMMS was ineffective – both because it had ‘no teeth’ (i.e., did not force the Greek state into action) and because it was a mere statement of the problem without proper resolve. […] PART II: PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS (a) Solution Proposals Here, the EU can take two approaches (outlined below) that might help resolve this issue. The first is alteration; that is, in the next GMMS, other EU nations should (1) express concern of Greek animosity towards Syrians AND (2) send EU troops into Greece to ensure proper changes are made (such as the permittance of Syrians to enter Greek Borders, and the improving of their welfare system). Such force – or ‘teeth’ – could be more effective as… […] Likewise, they may also implement the following changes at the regional – that is, EU organizational – level which may resolve the issue of Syrians being unable to settle in Greece, please see below:
1. European Union (EU) Agents regularly check Greek welfare system to ensure everything is up to code.
2. EU provides additional funding to Greece to support the influx of migrants. 3. EU passes law to prohibits the expulsion of refugees or blocking their entry within a state.
[…] (b) Effectiveness of Proposed Solutions In my view, the solutions I have proposed are MORE effective than current approaches to the problem as they both properly address the issue, provide support for Greece thereby making the capable to sustain the added population, and also, permit for the free movement of migrants. The actions by GMMS do not do this as they are ‘mere recommendations’ or simple acknowledgements without force or additional provision of support. There must be a material commitment to Greece for it to start allowing Syrians and there must also be the use of force (through foreign military threat)… My proposed solutions are more effective as [reason #1] [reason #2] [reason #3]… the GMMS recommendations are not as good because: [reason #1] [reason #2] [reason #3]… Because Syrians are such an extremely vulnerable – and at the current point, a helpless – population, such measures MUST be implemented straight away.
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(c) Target Audience The above-mentioned course of action, including the Final Research Report, will be sent to the following politician/bureaucrat: ‘Honorable Mister John X’ European Minister of Migrant Affairs web: www.euaffairsofmigrants.eu phone#: XXX-XXX-XXXX (ext. XXXX) email: eugeninq@affairsofmigrants.eu
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SOURCES CITED
Farhat, F.B. et al. (2018). Syrian refugees in Greece: Experience with Violence, Mental Health Status, And
Access to Information During The Journey And While In Greece. BMC Medicine, 16(1), 1-12. Smith, A.C. (2016). The Dangers of Migration and Government Incompetence. Journal of Sociological
Review, 32(1): 1-23. Slominski, P., & Trauner, F. (2018). How do Member States Return Unwanted Migrants? The Strategic
(non-)use of ‘Europe’ during Migration Crisis. Journal of Common Market Studies, 56(1), 101- 118.
Hajiyeva, A.M., & Hajiyev F. (2016). Migration Crisis in Europe: Political, Socio-Economic Reasons and
Challenges, Ways of Solution. Journal of Social Sciences, 5(2), 31-36. Slominski, P., & Trauner, F. (2018). How do Member States Return Unwanted Migrants? The Strategic (non-)use of ‘Europe’ during Migration Crisis. Journal of Common Market Studies, 56(1), 101-118. Ela, N., & Aras, G. (2019). Coercive Engineered Syrian Mass Migration in the EU-Turkey Relations: A Case
Analysis for Future Reference. International Migration, 57(2), 186-199. Girgin, S.Z., & Cebeci, G.T. (2017). The Effects of an Immigration Policy on the Economic Integration of
Migrants and on Natives’ Attitudes: The Case of Syrian Refugees in Turkey. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 11(4), 1065-1071.
Fargues, P., & Fandrich, C. The European Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis – What Next? (MPC RR
2012/14) Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, San Domenico di Fiesole (FI): European University Institute.