ABSTRACT
Discussions of forced migration highlight the role of coercion in the movement of refugees. Yet there is limited understanding of how migrants perceive coercion and how the development or deterioration of trust can facilitate this. Probing how their interaction influences the degree to which refugees can voluntarily shape their actions across the expanse of the migration pathway is critical in evaluating to what extent migration systems are ethically sound, effective, and conducive to building sustainable futures. This chapter analyses the intricate relationship between trust and coercion in forced migration through the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). Afghanistan suffers from one of the world’s most protracted refugee crises, driven by conflict, poverty, food insecurity, natural disasters, and political instability. The ACRS epitomises a pivotal approach adopted by the UK to manage migration in the aftermath of the Taliban’s victory. The chapter highlights the disjuncture between political narratives of responsibility towards Afghans and the conflicting rhetoric of a ‘hostile environment’. It further scrutinises the ACRS to outline the coercive components inherent in the dichotomies of forced and voluntary and ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ migration and examine the consequences of such classifications. Finally, it considers the potential harm to mutual trust that can result from what is deemed ‘justified coercion’ in the securitisation of borders.
