MixedRivals · Mixed (ar)rivals: Perceptions of threat, inequality, and the risk of violence between different (forced) migrant groups in North Africa

Host communities often perceive certain refugee or migrant groups as more ‘threatening’ (e.g. security or employment) than others. This can be seen from the recent arrivals of Ukrainian refugees in Europe, but also in many other regions of the world. In Morocco, for example, Sub-Saharan migrants are less favored than others. Unequal treatment by nationality, ethnicity, or time of arrival regarding status, access to employment or residence is often the consequence. Yet, little is known about what impact this has for inter-migrant group relations. How do (forced) migrant groups perceive other migrant group arrivals? Do they consider each other as potential rivals, as to say as competitors or threats? What factors increase or decrease inter-migrant group rivalries and when might they turn violent or rather solidary? MixedRivals applies a novel interdisciplinary approach by analyzing structural (ex. exclusionary policies) as well as socio-psychological factors (ex. perceptions of threat, positive contact, and group identification), bringing together theories on inter-group relations from migration, violent conflict, rivalry, and psychology. MixedRivals moves beyond the common host-migrant focus, and pushes the conceptual boundaries of rivalry, refugee/migrant, violence/non-violence, liberal/restrictive policies further, introducing the concept of “mixed rivalries” underlining the complex and multi-dimensional nature of possible contestations between migrant groups. Using a mixed method approach, furnishing new cross-sectional survey and qualitative data on inter-migrant group perceptions of threat and inequality in four urban hubs in North Africa, as well as de facto (forced) migration policy data, the project aims at advancing the understanding of inter-migrant group relations at a time where North Africa is becoming a major destination for mixed ar(rivals) at the intersection between Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa.