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Publikation
THE SYRIAN REFUGEES RETURN

A DETAILED EXAMINATION OF LESSONS FROM VIETNAM, BOSNIA, AND KOSOVO REFUGEE RETURN
1.7 Minutes
Book

More than a decade after the Syrian conflict triggered one of the largest displacement crises in modern history, the question of refugee return has once again moved to the forefront of global debate. With the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024 and shifting political discussions within Europe, particularly in Germany, home to nearly one million Syrians, the issue of whether, when, and how refugees might return has taken on renewed urgency.

Yet the path to large-scale, safe, and sustainable return is far from straightforward.

History shows us that refugee repatriation is never determined by a single political moment. Instead, it is shaped by a complex combination of security, economic opportunity, property rights, political stability, and the presence (or absence) of robust international oversight. The returns of Vietnamese refugees in the 1980s, Bosnians after the Dayton Accords, and Kosovo Albanians following NATO intervention offer powerful lessons—successes and failures—that continue to shape contemporary policy thinking.

In this comprehensive study, “The Syrian Refugees Return: A Detailed Examination of Lessons from Vietnam, Bosnia, and Kosovo Refugee Return,” the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF MENA) examines these historical precedents in depth and evaluates what they mean for Syrians residing in Germany today.

  • The paper addresses key questions now dominating public debate:
  • Are conditions in Syria truly conducive to safe and dignified return?
  • What legal and economic guarantees must exist for refugees to rebuild their lives?
  • What role should Germany and the international community play in supporting reintegration, property restitution, and long-term stability?
  • And how can lessons from previous return movements guide responsible policymaking today?


This publication aims to provide policymakers, researchers, journalists, and civil society actors with a clear, evidence-based framework as discussions around return continue to evolve.

Download: “The Syrian Refugees Return – A Detailed Examination of Lessons from Vietnam, Bosnia, and Kosovo Refugee Return