CfP Panel “Irregular Migration and (in)Security in Southern Europe”- 2022 ECPR General Conference

Panel Chairs: João Estevens (Portuguese Institute of International Relations) and Emellin de Oliveira (NOVA School of Law)

ECPR General Conference University, Innsbruck (Austria)- 22-26 August- Section “S21- International Migration Governance: Policies and Practices in Diverse Societies” (endorsed by the ECPR Standing Group Migration and Ethnicity)

Panel abstract: The last decade has been showing the complex and interdependent context of global security, especially in issues such as irregular migration where the separation between internal and external security is contentious. The end of the Cold War, 9/11 terrorist attacks, and more recently the so-called “EU migration crisis” opened space for a new interest in the topic, that has partially moved from the social area to the security field, often leading towards increasing politicization and securitization – both in policy practices and discourse. Whether the object of security is the Nation-state, the global community, the European Union, or the crossing border individuals (migrants, asylum seekers, refugees), there are several challenges that emerge.

The migration-security nexus has been explored dissimilarly across time, space, and disciplines. Research has focused on transnational cooperation and aid with countries of origin and transit countries, human (in)security drivers in the countries of origin, better transnational governance, stronger border control and surveillance, the militarization of borders, enhanced FRONTEX competences and policing instruments, detention centres, or transnational organized crime and migrants smuggling.

This panel discusses the complex relation between irregular migration and security, focusing on Southern Europe, and it is open to contributions from different disciplines in a comparative or case study perspective. Papers that approach these issues empirically and in relation to European security, national security, or human security are particularly welcome, whether dealing with the causes, consequences or instruments that challenge the migration-security nexus.

 

Please submit your paper proposals (including a title, a 250-word paper abstract, and the name, institutional affiliation of the authors) to João Estevens (jestevens@fcsh.unl.pt) and Emellin de Oliveira (emellin.oliveira@novalaw.unl.pt) by Monday, February 7 2022.