MigrAtion Governance and asYlum Crises

Project Information

MAGYC

Grant agreement ID: 822806

DOI

10.3030/822806

Project closed

EC signature date 5 November 2018

Start date 1 November 2018

End date 30 April 2023

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Europe In A Changing World - Inclusive, Innovative And Reflective Societies

Total cost

€ 3 175 263,75

EU contribution

€ 3 175 263,70

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - MAGYC (MigrAtion Governance and asYlum Crises)

Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2023-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Since the beginning of the ‘refugee crisis’ in 2015, different policy responses have been put forward by governments and international organisations. Albeit very different from one another, these responses have two common traits: they were generally presented as the sole realistic solution to a situation that was often characterized as ‘unsustainable’, and they were often geared towards a more efficient control and surveillance of the borders.

Therefore, MAGYC seeks to assess how migration governance has responded to the recent “refugee crises” and has since been influenced by it, and how crises at large shape policy responses to migration.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The findings from the first dimension "Governing times of crisis" highlight that, although a ‘migration crisis’ (in fact, crisis in general) is often perceived as an ephemeral phenomenon, there are some structural dimensions that alter migration dynamics at the global level, contributing to ‘migration crises’. The project identified what and who defines a ‘migration crisis’, introducing the migration as crisis framework. We then turn to the EU’s response to the migration ‘crisis’: more specifically, to the reconfiguration of EU migration governance by the crisis discourse. Lastly, we explored how forced migration governance functions as a state-making strategy for different state and non-state actors in origin, transit, and host countries.

In the second dimension "Governing spaces of crisis", we addressed the tension between territorial sovereignty and the networked dispersion of people across Europe and its neighbouring countries. The tension relates to the multiple dimensions of governance — between international frameworks, regional or bilateral partnerships, national policies and local initiatives— as well as the importance of responses to migration flows provided by diverse actors including pro-refugee civil society, diaspora organisations, coalitions of diverse pro refugee actors, opponents to refugee reception, etc. We introduced the concept of "battlegrounds of migration", which deepens understanding on the multilevel governance of asylum and immigration as well as "refugee rentier states in the Global South". Focusing on the local level, we examined the role of the civil sector in refugee reception and integration. The project findings serve to highlight the need for models of integration that are transnational and multi-scalar.

Regarding the exploitation and dissemination throughout the project:

- At least 50 peer-reviewed articles were published in high-impact journals by members of the MAGYC team, listed on MAGYC website and promoted on MAGYC Twitter (eg: Adamson, F. B., & Tsourapas, G. (2020). The Migration State in the Global South: Nationalizing, Developmental, and Neoliberal Models of Migration Management. International Migration Review, 54(3), 853-882)
- The MAGYC team participated in at least 60 conferences, workshops and webinars (APSA Annual Meeting (eg: August 2019, Washington, USA), Annual Convention of the International Studies Association - ISA (April 2022, Nashville, USA; March 2023, Montreal, Canada)
- 10 policy briefs were developed, presented to policy makers through policy forums and are available on MAGYC website (eg NEGOTIATING CIRCULAR MIGRATION FROM NIGER TO LIBYA AND BACK: BETWEEN POLICIES AND NON-POLICIES)
- The MAGYC team organized/participated to 9 policy forums (notably ULiège organized a policy dialogue entitled "Political consequences of Asylum and Migration “Crisis” in the EU and Its Neighborhood " in Bruxelles in February 2023)
- The MAGYC team organized a final dissemination event (including a public keynote address followed by a roundtable) in Science Po Paris, gathering a total number of about 110 persons
- 7 infographics summarizing the project key findings were shared on social media (Twitter and Facebook) and are available on MAGYC website
- A summary report of the project presenting the main key findings and policy recommendations has been widely shared on social media (Twitter an Facebook) and is available on MAGYC website

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The findings from the first dimension "Governing times of crisis" highlight that, although a ‘migration crisis’ (in fact, crisis in general) is often perceived as an ephemeral phenomenon, there are some structural dimensions that alter migration dynamics at the global level, contributing to ‘migration crises’. The project identified what and who defines a ‘migration crisis’, introducing the migration as crisis framework. We then turn to the EU’s response to the migration ‘crisis’: more specifically, to the reconfiguration of EU migration governance by the crisis discourse. Lastly, we explored how forced migration governance functions as a state-making strategy for different state and non-state actors in origin, transit, and host countries.

In the second dimension "Governing spaces of crisis", we addressed the tension between territorial sovereignty and the networked dispersion of people across Europe and its neighbouring countries. The tension relates to the multiple dimensions of governance — between international frameworks, regional or bilateral partnerships, national policies and local initiatives— as well as the importance of responses to migration flows provided by diverse actors including pro-refugee civil society, diaspora organisations, coalitions of diverse pro refugee actors, opponents to refugee reception, etc. We introduced the concept of "battlegrounds of migration", which deepens understanding on the multilevel governance of asylum and immigration as well as "refugee rentier states in the Global South". Focusing on the local level, we examined the role of the civil sector in refugee reception and integration. The project findings serve to highlight the need for models of integration that are transnational and multi-scalar.

By appraising policy responses in light of the ‘crisis’ and assessing their efficiency for the long-term governance of migration, the project drew policy recommendations for more efficient, forward looking and sustainable governance of mobility. Instead of being inspired by enduring misconceptions about migration realities and a strongly distorted evaluation of policy efficiency, our policy recommendations seek to break away from path dependency and are thus more aligned with the experiences of experts, civil society actors and migrants, refugees and asylum seekers themselves (in Europe and beyond). For example, we focused on two sets of policy recommendations: one regarding EU externalisation policies, the other exploring pathways to support the reception and integration of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Europe.

As for the research implications of the MAGYC project, these are manyfold. To start, our research about ‘migration crisis’ in Europe opens avenues for comparisons with new developments, for example around Ukrainian exiles and other contexts such as Central American asylum seekers crossing US borders. Furthermore, by better connecting migration governance with the politics of war making and international intervention across the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, the MAGYC project has brought about broader theoretical innovations around the notion of migration diplomacy in international politics, which are useful to future research.

FullLogoHD2.0.jpg