THE MIGRATION GOVERNANCE OF THE REFUGEE CRISIS AND THE “CRACKS” IN THE COMMON EUROPEAN IDENTITY: THE CASE STUDY OF THE ISLAND LESVOS IN GREECE
As a response to the refugee crisis of 2015, the European system of migration governance focused on the implementation of inadequate policies with “top down” informal planning and ‘ad hoc’ type interventions. Therefore, a different treatment between first host and relocating countries was highlighted, which created inequalities between the Member States of European Union (EU). At national level (especially at the gates of Europe; Greece, Italy), the pursued spatial planning policies resolve the urgent needs of the refugee crisis, nevertheless increase socio-spatial inequalities and exacerbate social reactions at refugee camps. The mismanagement of the refugee issue, both at European and national level, gradually degrades the perception of the common European identity of EU citizens and encourages xenophobic reactions and introversion not only against refugees but also against the European institutions that embody the common European ideal of an open and democratic Europe. Hence, the need to reconsider European identities through a critical review of the migration governance system and its impact on the sense of belonging is more urgent than ever. This paper attempts to highlight the cracks that have emerged in European identity and the common European ideal of democracy, equality and justice through the management of the refugee crisis by European institutions and Member States. Employing qualitative research, based on media and document analysis, the paper briefly presents the case study of Lesvos, through which it attempts to highlight how national migration policies impose a "top-down" planning, preventing any effort for "bottom-up" actions, thus intensifying conflicts at the local level. To this end, it adopts a socio-spatial approach, with the logics of production (top-down planning) and appropriation (bottom-up mobilizations) of space.
THE MIGRATION GOVERNANCE OF THE REFUGEE CRISIS AND THE “CRACKS” IN THE COMMON EUROPEAN IDENTITY: THE CASE STUDY OF THE ISLAND LESVOS IN GREECE
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DOI: 10.37572/EdArt_15122313017
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Palavras-chave: Migration governance. Top-down planning. Refugee crisis. Common European Identity.
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Keywords: Migration governance. Top-down planning. Refugee crisis. Common European Identity.
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Abstract:
As a response to the refugee crisis of 2015, the European system of migration governance focused on the implementation of inadequate policies with “top down” informal planning and ‘ad hoc’ type interventions. Therefore, a different treatment between first host and relocating countries was highlighted, which created inequalities between the Member States of European Union (EU). At national level (especially at the gates of Europe; Greece, Italy), the pursued spatial planning policies resolve the urgent needs of the refugee crisis, nevertheless increase socio-spatial inequalities and exacerbate social reactions at refugee camps. The mismanagement of the refugee issue, both at European and national level, gradually degrades the perception of the common European identity of EU citizens and encourages xenophobic reactions and introversion not only against refugees but also against the European institutions that embody the common European ideal of an open and democratic Europe. Hence, the need to reconsider European identities through a critical review of the migration governance system and its impact on the sense of belonging is more urgent than ever. This paper attempts to highlight the cracks that have emerged in European identity and the common European ideal of democracy, equality and justice through the management of the refugee crisis by European institutions and Member States. Employing qualitative research, based on media and document analysis, the paper briefly presents the case study of Lesvos, through which it attempts to highlight how national migration policies impose a "top-down" planning, preventing any effort for "bottom-up" actions, thus intensifying conflicts at the local level. To this end, it adopts a socio-spatial approach, with the logics of production (top-down planning) and appropriation (bottom-up mobilizations) of space.
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Número de páginas: 21
- Frangopoulos Yannis
- Alexandra Makridou