ABSTRACT
Even though many of my participants attempt to withstand this violence and war, some even fighting in rebel factions as a consequence, many were subject to torture, violence and threats and because of this were quick to flee, selling everything they had for minimal prices. The decision where to go tended to revolve around hearsay about economic stability and safety or existing family/friend networks. Unfortunately, the international community’s response to supporting displacement has been nothing short of substandard. Equally, slow political responses have allowed for particular refugee routes to flourish which automatically renders any escape to somewhere, near or far, not only precarious but open to exploitation and here is where there is more business from misery. There are higher powers which establish this possibility, almost in some ways encouraging illicit economies surrounding refugee transience. Turkey has been paid billions to reduce numbers leaving its shores yet still the boats arrive. Hungary applied for EU funding to deal with its “refugee crisis” but did little other than putting as many as possible in prison for a few days before sending them along the route towards Germany. Therefore, it’s difficult to see how this money went towards providing serious infrastructures to support refugees.
In the vacuum of intervention, illicit economies function as way of providing services, products and advice for journeys. The profile of such people does not necessarily only hinge on the stereotypical “smuggler,” since my research shows that politicians, senior officials, police, military, border control authorities and prison guards were also part of this exploitation. Through refugee testimonies and interviews with such protagonists, this chapter shows that, along different journeys and in different ways, these illicit economies also benefit from the initial misery and vulnerability experienced by refugees when they left their home countries.
