The Study of Challenges, Opportunities and Consequences of the Life of Afghan Migrants in Western Countries

The paper studies the challenges and opportunities of Afghan migrants in western countries and their impact on their lives.

Grounded theory is the method. Using purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with 15 Afghan migrants residing in western countries that had the experience of living in Iran as well.

Findings show that Afghan migrants face challenges in terms of socio-cultural (a sense of being thrown to the west, language difficulty, cultural differences, nostalgia of the homeland), economic (tax payment and forced labor, migration expenses, troublemaking in Europe), political (anti- migrant groups, insecurity of migration route). They also experience opportunities in terms of socio-cultural (social integration, possibility of progress, the value of ethnic diversity in the west), economic (welfare advantages, optimal working conditions), and political (equal humane rights, citizenship right). The impact of this new situation for migrants is: continuity of communication, weakening inter-ethnic interactions, and financial support for the families.

Despite the satisfaction of Afghan Migrants living in western countries, experience of many challenges and limitations in Iran and identity belonging to Afghanistan, the identity demarcation of Afghan migrants living in western countries can’t be considered as a single layer, but the collective life experience in Iran, Afghanistan and western countries caused that their identity be a combination of societies, they lived in or have belonging to it.