In February 2018, six aid agencies released a report expressing their concern about the 'premature' return of Syrian refugees. The situation in Syria is still unstable and seven years of war have...Show moreIn February 2018, six aid agencies released a report expressing their concern about the 'premature' return of Syrian refugees. The situation in Syria is still unstable and seven years of war have reduced much of the country to rubble. This study defines the motives for the so-called 'spontaneous' and 'voluntary' return of Syrian asylum-seekers and refugees from the Netherlands.Show less
The thesis looks at the relationship between Arab nationalist policies and the rise of sectarianism in Iraq. It investigates the period of the British mandate and the reign of the first Hashemite...Show moreThe thesis looks at the relationship between Arab nationalist policies and the rise of sectarianism in Iraq. It investigates the period of the British mandate and the reign of the first Hashemite king, Faisal I. First, the thesis attempts to explain that Arab nationalist sentiments were adopted to achieve Hashemite dynastic goals, unity among citizens of the new-born country, and Iraqi dominance over the region. However, these efforts backfired as these policies resulted in more ethno-sectarian divides among Iraqis. The research question on the relationship between Pan-Arabism and the rise of sectarianism in Iraq is analyzed from a historical perspective by focusing on Faisal’s educational and military polices form 1921 to 1932.Show less
