Berjem Judy

Kobanê - Migration a direct result of narrow policies and strategies imposed by dominant powers and nation-states seeking to reshape the region according to their own interests.

Amira Ali, the Co-Chair of the Economic Council of Kobanê in the Euphrates region, offered an in-depth assessment of migration policies, discussing their objectives and impacts. She explained that the issue of migration has deep historical roots that vary across eras: “In pre-state times, people sought to strengthen their power through alliances and wars, aiming to control land and property through migration. With the establishment of states and the evolution of nation-state systems, migration turned into a systematic method in which ‘special wars’ were used as tools to reinforce this trajectory.”

She added that this transformation truly began after World War I and reached its peak in later stages, as migration became a direct outcome of wars and political upheavals. “As long as conflicts persist,” she said, “migration will remain one of their most prominent results, reflecting the depth of crises and reshaping societies.” 

 

How Migration Serves Economic Power

In recent years, the number of people migrating to Europe has increased dramatically, under various pretexts- whether seeking safety or abandoning previous lifestyles. In this context, Amira Ali stated that this phenomenon is a direct result of European policies.

“Essentially,” she said, “we must examine the causes of wars. Europe is known as the ‘old continent’- a continent that lacks vitality and labor power. So how can it strengthen its economy and expand its influence? Europe needs an active workforce to implement its projects, but it doesn’t find this energy among its own populations. For this reason, it fuels wars and conflicts- selling weapons on one side and promoting a narrative of security and peace on the other- to push people toward migration. Meanwhile, people, in search of safety, naturally migrate to the so-called ‘safer’ countries. Now, where does migration occur most extensively?”

Amira Ali explained that migration takes multiple forms—both internal and external- each serving different purposes.

“At present,” she said, “we are witnessing a marked increase in internal migration within Syria, Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, leading to profound demographic transformations.”

She highlighted Syria as the most notable example, where systematic Arabization policies are being implemented to transform it into an Arab-majority area—part of an internal strategy to reshape the population structure. “Similar patterns appear in Iraq, Iran, and Turkey,” she continued, “where thousands of Kurds have been displaced from their villages, their homes burned, and their lands rendered barren—only to be repopulated later by Arabs, Turks, Persians, and even Mongols.”

 

From “Divide and Move” to the Reality of Displacement

Amira Ali went on to assert that migration is often used as an internal political tool, citing Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s well-known principle: ‘Divide and Move’, which has become an operational strategy.

“By dividing societies into conflicting groups, dismantling their unity, and altering their demographic makeup,” she said, “it becomes easier to control them. Yet, these policies do not always achieve their goals—they can instead strengthen people’s unity, weakening the ability of dominant powers and nation-states to exploit them.”

As an example, she referenced the events of 2014, when the Turkish state pushed ISIS toward Kobanê, leading to a massive battle and a wave of migration. “Turkey exploited this migration,” she said, “integrating the displaced into its economy—many of whom still work in Turkish markets today. This is a clear example of how migration is instrumentalized for political and economic purposes.”

 

Migration: Not a Geographic Move but an Uprooting of Identity

Amira Ali emphasized that dominant powers strategically use economic policies to enforce internal migration. “For instance,” she noted, “the former Syrian regime never implemented economic projects in Kurdish cities, nor provided infrastructure that would allow residents to build sustainable lives. This forced many to migrate—either to other Syrian cities or neighboring countries like Lebanon and Iraq.”

These policies, she explained, do more than simply change one’s location—they cause deep transformations in human identity, affecting culture, ethics, language, and personality, reshaping individuals according to their new environments.

“Both internal and external migrants are compelled to adapt,” she said. “Often, they must learn a new language, gradually adopting a new culture and losing their original identity.”

She stressed that migration serves one overarching goal: the weakening of cultural and linguistic identity. “In external migration,” she said, “ethnic and national identities- Kurdish, Arab, or Turkish- are often erased. People are reshaped according to the norms of their host societies. Migration in this century is no longer a mere physical relocation- it is a migration away from the self, identity, and truth. This opens the door to numerous crises- infertility, poverty, social fragmentation- all under the guise of imposed modernity.”

 

Popular Awareness Against Population Drain and Forced Migration

Amira Ali pointed out that wealthy nations are often at the core of migration policies. Dominant powers and nation- states, she explained, use migration as a political weapon against various peoples, with the greatest impact on vulnerable societies.

“The Palestinian people,” she said, “have suffered immensely from these policies. Despite Palestine being one of the most fertile and productive lands, everyone can see what has befallen it- displacement and destruction.”

“Kurdistan,” she continued, “is another prime example. Known globally as one of the richest regions in natural resources- a paradise on earth- it has nevertheless faced division, exploitation, forced migration, and continuous war, making it a constant victim of domination and conflict.”

Amira Ali concluded by warning that migration has become one of the most dangerous phenomena threatening societies in this century.

“In today’s world,” she said, “migration poses a real threat. The global population has reached unprecedented levels- something dominant powers did not anticipate. In response, they have opened the gates to widespread wars and chaos, allowing them to reshape the global landscape according to their interests. From this perspective, migration has become a strategic tool for managing disorder, transformations, and divisions within their sphere of control.”

She ended her statement with a warning: “The greatest danger lies in the fact that our peoples now accept these policies with satisfaction- welcoming migration without realizing its consequences. Dominant powers promote and glorify migration, turning human beings themselves into instruments of their propaganda. Therefore, the Kurdish people- and all the peoples of the Middle East- must remain conscious and vigilant. We must not allow migration to uproot us from our origins or become a means to plunder and empty our homelands.”