Mind the Darién Gap: Migration Trends through Americas’ Isthmus
Open Access
- Author:
- Shiels, Emily
- Area of Honors:
- Interdisciplinary in Geography & Global and International Studies
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Melissa W. Wright, Thesis Supervisor
Brian H. King, Thesis Honors Advisor
Krista Brune, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Migration
Drug Trafficking
Panama
Colombia
Darién Gap
U.S. foreign policy
Geopolitics - Abstract:
- The Darién Gap in Panama and Colombia stretches across a narrow, mountainous, and densely forested isthmus in one of the world’s most geopolitically significant migratory crossings. This thesis seeks to investigate and synthesize the literature that evaluates the connections of human migration, drug trafficking, and geopolitical factors affecting the Darién Gap and, by extension, the broader region. To expand understanding of how these problems relate to the rising rates of trafficking and smuggling over the isthmus, this thesis triangulates a discussion of drug trafficking, human migration, and geopolitical regional relationships explicitly. One conclusion is that crucial insights into the area could be gained by placing more emphasis on the lived experiences of migrants who make this treacherous journey and who are vulnerable to powerful drug cartels. More awareness of migrants' actual experiences, when combined with policy reports from the U.S. government and academic research on the area, would deepen our understanding of how migration, trafficking, and geopolitics connect in the Darién Gap. To make this argument, this thesis combines a discussion of peer-reviewed articles, migrant accounts of the journeys, and official U.S. government reports to create an integrated overview of migration trends and the geopolitical importance of the area throughout North America. Through the discussion, the thesis shows that to develop more effective policies regarding migration at national and international levels, it is essential to understand the interplay of these dynamic social forces of migrant perspectives, smuggling and cartel influences, and U.S. policies in the Darién Gap.