ABSTRACT
There are many ways to cross a border without permission. In this chapter the various methods and means of border crossing experienced by our research population will be described and analysed. To understand how specific borders work, one must first be familiar with the borders’ geography. This chapter will therefore present three concrete examples of border crossings from the Horn of Africa, Iraq, and the former Soviet Union. Specific opportunities or obstacles faced along these borders will be discussed. Migrants’ social, economic, and human capitals also affect how borders are crossed. Border crossings may even vary along age, gender, and personal circumstances, such as the level of insecurity people face and its resulting limitations. Chapter four discussed the general decision-making process concerning migration. In this chapter, decisions surrounding the smuggling process will be central, addressing questions like: how do people find a ‘good’ smuggler? What routes or ways of travelling does one prefer, given the available opportunities? Is there room for negotiation when it comes to price and destination agreements, or do migrants face complete loss of control? The answers to these questions will first be explored through specific narratives from selected respondents from each of the three research regions, and then examined in light of more general personal characteristics, such as age, gender, social, and economic capital.
