The intersection of drivers of migration from Venezuela to Colombia (2014-2024)

Abstract

This research analyzes the intersection of macro-, meso-, and micro-level factors shaping migration from Venezuela to Colombia between 2014 and 2024. The movement of people from Venezuela to a multitude of destinations represents one of the largest migratory movements in recent years. Venezuelan migration has become a central issue on the political agenda and public debate in many countries, including Colombia, the main destination for Venezuelan migrants. Traditionally, academic literature has focused on macro-level explanations, that is, the structural forces of attraction and expulsion at origin and destination, in an attempt to unravel the explanatory factors of the migration phenomenon. This has prevented the consideration of intermediate and personal-level factors, e.g., the capabilities, aspirations, expectations, and desires of migrant women and men, and their influence on the decision-making process from the moment they begin to consider leaving their country until they settle at their destination. The personal experience of these individuals and the fundamental role of their agency have not been taken into account in many analyses. The main objective of this study is to identify and examine the factors operating at different levels and influencing migration from Venezuela to Colombia, as well as the interaction between them. That is, the way in which the geopolitical environment and the internal political, economic, and social conditions in Venezuela and Colombia influence migrants' decision-making. It also examines the role of intermediate factors such as social networks and support mechanisms, access to information, and participation in civil society organizations. This study aims to achieve a better understanding of why, when, and how Venezuelan migrants migrate to Colombia in a process that integrates different phases and contexts._x000D_ The methodological approach of the research is qualitative and consists of the analysis of fifty-one semi-structured interviews conducted in person between September and December 2022 with Venezuelan migrant women and men residing in Bogotá. These interviews constitute the primary source through which this research was conducted and the five research questions posed at the outset were answered. In addition, secondary bibliographic sources were used, including books, academic articles, reports from supranational institutions and non-governmental organizations, and newspaper articles. The qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews allows for a more in-depth and focused approach to the subjective experiences and perceptions of the women and men who participated in this research than one based exclusively on numerical data and statistics. The structure of the thesis consists of an introduction, the theoretical and methodological framework, the analysis section in which the semi-structured interviews are examined, conclusions detailing the results, the appendix, and finally the bibliography.

Date of Award	19 Nov 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Supervisor	Cristina Blasi Casagran (Director)