Rethinking Narratives on Environmental Migration: The Case of Iraqi Marshes

Abstract

This research project is grounded in the multifaceted discourse around environmental migration, and how it takes form in the context of Anthropocene in the attempt to problematize prevailing views associated with climate-induced refugee crises. My intent is to align with the interdisciplinary approach of Environmental Humanities, which incorporates diverse analytical perspectives. To do that, I rely on two pillars: on one side, I take insights from those migration studies that criticize the racial foundation of contemporary narratives. On the other side, I incorporate anthropological theory, specifically drawing upon concepts from Elisabeth Povinelli whose work takes up potential concepts emerging from a reevaluation of historical patterns of late liberalism and indigenous communities. Drawing upon this attempt to deconstruct Western ontologies and introduce new and more effective concepts for the era of Anthropocene, I investigate the context of the Iraqi Marshes and the movements that have involved marsh dwellers and other households. The drainage of the marshes serves as an interesting case study to problematize questions related to human ecology, internal and international movements, as well as regional, local, and international responsibilities regarding ecosystems degradation.