Divorce in time of war and displacement, between social anxiety and changing family practices: the case of northwest region of Syria in 2022

This paper expands the research on familial change in the context of war and displacement in Syria. It examines the multiple factors contributing to an actual or perceived increase in divorce rates among Syrian couples, and why it has become such a widely debated topic of concern in a society where divorce is still considered taboo. This paper looks more closely at the case of the northwestern region of Syria that welcomed almost 2.87 million internally displaced persons in 2022. Moving beyond analyses that focus primarily on economic explanations for familial change, we argue that divorce should be understood as the result of interlocking social, economic and political factors. First, we argue that displacement created new marital norms and practices, as a result of the dissolution of kinship networks. Secondly, displacement led to the loss of livelihoods and worsened living conditions, resulting in a consequent reorganisation of roles among family members, and potential tensions. Third, the unclear jurisprudence that characterises the region conveys a sense of instability and lack of family-law regulation, which complicates family reunification and the application of court decisions in divorce proceedings.