Migration, Resilience and Security: Responses to New Inflows of Asylum Seekers and Migrants

Abstract

The ubiquity of resilience -the process of patterned adjustments adopted by a society or an individual in the face of endogenous or exogenous shocks -across the broad social sciences spectrum is undisputable. Yet, migration scholars have been relatively absent from this vibrant discussion. The present article suggests a theorization of the link between migration, resilience, and security by examining ways in which resilience precedes a socially constructed understanding of international migration as a security issue. The article explores how the surge in worldwide refugee numbers and associated mass migration phenomena were not only interpreted as a shock in post-Cold War France, but also instrumentalised by dominant discourses to underscore the necessity of adopting a particular pattern of adjustments to uphold the status quo against changes provoked by these migratory events. The social construction of refugee movements and mass migration as a significant disturbance requiring France to opt for a resilient strategy has led, ultimately, to the securitization of migration. In a broader sense, the article presents a new lens through which to analyze situations and conditions in which resilience has led to and induced the securitization of migration.

Managing or restricting movement? Diverging approaches of African and European migration governance

“…In contrast, this paper shows that EU policies with regards to governing migration are not particularly more securitised than their African counterparts, and that they are less securitised on paper than in practice. Thus the rhetoric of the documents analysed for this paper seem to be steering discursive powers away from more securitisation in contrast to much research on the topic (Bourbeau, 2015). But the aim to control migration was evident through other means, such as the regulatory approach toward mobility in conjunction with territorialised development to prevent migration.…”

“…Fundamentally, the securitised approach juxtaposes the freedom of movement within Europe (through Schengen) with stronger borders and an externalisation of migration controls (e.g. Andersson, 2016;Bourbeau, 2015;Völkel, 2014). Drawing from these debates, only very briefly touched upon here, would suggest that African states and institutions would focus on easing mobility as primary beneficiaries of migration for development and the EU and European countries on controlling (irregular) migration in an increasingly securitised-migration context.…”

Vulnerability and capacities of international students in the face of disasters in Auckland, New Zealand: A qualitative descriptive study

“…The field of migration studies has considerable width and depth and spans diverse areas of study, ranging from sociology, economics, and politics, to topics related to climate change, disasters, and humanitarian aid (Bourbeau, 2015;Guadagno, 2017;McLeman & Hunter, 2010;Renaud et al, 2011). The diversity present in migration research draws attention to and emphasises the complexities, opportunities, and challenges that follow any kind of migrant movement (Julca, 2011;Renaud et al, 2011).…”

Una aproximación sociológica crítica activista al estudio de salud y migración: el caso ecuatoriano

“…En general, también, estos migrantes se aferraron a su trabajo o al estudio (si migraban en edad escolar) encontrando en la actividad diaria (de largas horas) distracción, tranquilidad y, además, una legitimización de la razón por la cual habían partido. Estas características y tácticas han sido asociadas, en la literatura, a la resiliencia (Bourbeau, 2015;Southwick;Bonanno;Masten;Panter-Brick;Yehuda, 2014). Sin embargo, en nuestro estudio las mismas no indicaban que estos migrantes y sus familiares no migrantes fuesen o se considerasen resilientes.…”