Maritime Migration and Maritime Rescue in the Central Mediterranean: Perspectives of Key Actors

This paper is part of a larger research project on Search and Rescue in the Mediterranean at DeZIM and complements a quantitative study testing and disproving the claim that rescue facilities in the Central Mediterranean represent a pull-factor for migration. It summarises the findings of qualitative interviews conducted in winter 2021/22 analysing the institutional arrangements, the drivers of migration and the nature of and dealings with migratory risks as perceived by some key actors. In sum, and in contrast to simplifying assumptions, there is super-directional migration by a super-diverse and changing cohort of migrants acting in a super-complex environment that is super-volatile, resulting in highly complex processes. In order to analyse this case and develop appropriate policy responses, a complexity thinking approach is required.