Migration Crisis Research Articles

The politics of (un)counting international migration in Senegal and the Gambia

ABSTRACT Since the European ‘migration crisis’ in 2015, various actors in politics, media and science have called for better data as a basis to efficiently manage migration. This includes a rising demand for more reliable, timely and comparable statistics on the international movement of people, especially on the African continent. International Organizations (IOs) have responded by offering various forms of ‘capacity building’ to their member states. The article looks at the development of statistical knowledge production in Senegal and the Gambia, exploring how interventions by IOs have changed statistical data practices in West Africa. West Africa is a particularly interesting case because, until recently, most post-colonial states did not generate census or survey data on questions of international migration, citizenship or ethnicity. Drawing on recent works in Science and Technology Studies on the performative power of numbers and categories, the article argues that changing data practices have enacted multiple conflicting migration realities in West Africa. Looking at IOs’ epistemic interventions in Senegal and the Gambia, the article offers insights into the ontological politics of counting and categorizing migration in a post-colonial context. It also contributes to a better understanding of the co-production of statistical knowledge and programs of migration management.

Book Review for “Nonprofits, Public Policy, and Migration Crises” Special Issue of Nonprofit Policy Forum

Book Review for “Nonprofits, Public Policy, and Migration Crises” Special Issue of Nonprofit Policy Forum

Perspective taking to reduce prejudice: The Venezuela–Colombia migrant crisis.

Perspective taking to reduce prejudice: The Venezuela–Colombia migrant crisis.

Pigtail trap: Stent migration crisis following endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage.

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PARTICIPATION OF UKRAINE IN INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION PROCESSES UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF WAR

The acceleration of migration processes in the modern globalized world is taking place against the background of population growth, aggravation of climatic and economic crises and geopolitical conflicts, which forces the international community to take decisive steps in the direction of overcoming the consequences of using refugees for the purpose of political pressure on countries, providing assistance to forced migrants. The beginning of the large-scale invasion radically changed the structure and directions of movement of emigrants from Ukraine, deepened the problem of the outflow of highly qualified personnel, in particular to the EU. Therefore, overcoming the largest migration crisis in the world since the Second World War and the return of labor resources to the country depends on the improvement of the national migration policy, which will take into account international standards in the field of migration, international protection, employment and integration, as well as provide an opportunity to specify the directions of support for Ukrainians according to the border. The article defines the place of Ukraine in modern global migration processes, which take place in the conditions of financial crises bursts, political and military conflicts. Changes in the characteristic features of immigration and emigration of Ukraine since independence, in particular during the pre-war period and the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, are outlined. Absolute and relative indicators of international population migration in 2002–2021 were analyzed. The peculiarities of the forced migration crisis in connection with the large-scale invasion of the russian federation, in particular the change in the geographical structure of migration flows from Ukraine, the aggravation of the problem of the labor resources outflow, have been studied. Ukraine's strategic partners among the EU and OECD countries in the field of wartime migration have been identified, taking into account the number of admitted forced emigrants, the amount of financial assistance provided to them, and the implementation of migration policy adaptation measures.

Anatomie české islamofobie v éře migrační krize

This review article focuses on the phenomena of Islamophobia and its research in the Czech Republic with a particular emphasis on the era of the so-called migration crisis (2014–2016). It is mainly based on the findings of four ground-breaking team research projects published in several milestone collective monographs in the research field: the primarily sociological and anthropological empirical research done by Daniel Topinka and his extensive team around Palacky University in Olomouc, the primarily political science research done by Přemysl Rosůlek and his collaborators from Western Bohemian University in Pilsen, the primarily political science research done by Miroslav Mareš and his team around Masaryk University in Brno, and the interdisciplinary, both empirical and theoretical, however loosely connected, research project organized by Bronislav Ostřanský and Ondřej Beránek, with their backgrounds in Middle Eastern studies. The article tries to put the main findings of the four as yet isolated research projects together, to make them communicate with each other, to show both the convergence as well as divergence in their analyses, and, where possible, offer the author’s own alternative interpretations. The aim of this enterprise is to offer readers a meaningful narrative of the evolution of contemporary Czech Islamophobia, its character, dynamics, and the possible factors that shape it. Great emphasis is put on identifying the main weaknesses of research done to date, which rather researches Islamophobic texts than its people, rather focuses more on the social than on institutionalized (state) Islamophobia, and ignores the complex mutual relations in the triangle consisting of state, society, and (Czech) Muslims.

Perception of the Media Discourse on Migration in Spain before and During Covid-19: Different Stakeholders’ Views and Good Practices

Owing to Covid-19, migration was not a main media topic in Spain in 2020. However, the spring of 2021 witnessed an upturn in media coverage of migration, which coincided with the regional election campaigns and the Ceuta migrant crisis. In this study, our main objectives were to i) analyze the opinions of various stakeholders, both individuals and civil society organizations, regarding media discourse on migration and forced migration before and during the pandemic, and ii) compile and propose good practices to improve these narratives and hence their potential effect on the integration of migrants. For this purpose, we conducted 25 interviews in 2019 with highly vulnerable, forcibly displaced people. We also administered an open-ended questionnaire to 16 representatives of national and international stakeholders, including policy-makers, non-governmental organizations, researchers, educators, businesses, and migrants, in the spring of 2021. The collected data displayed a wide range of perspectives from different stakeholders regarding the potential consequences of media discourse on migrants. In addition, we compiled the existing and novel proposals for good practices that may counteract biased communication and, consequently, give rise to the development of new measures for potential replication in other regions.

Anti-Immigrant Eurosceptic Worldview in Estonia: a Comparison of Russian-Speaking and Estonian-Speaking Communities

This article analyzes the transformation of the attitude of the Russian-speaking and Estonian-speaking communities of Estonia towards the reception of refugees from the 1990s until the present day. A comparison is made of the attitude towards immigrants of various origins (African, Asian, Ukrainian refugees, entrants from Russia) by ethnic Estonians with the perception of them by local Russian-speaking residents of this Baltic state. The author examines the reasons for the negative and positive perception of Estonians towards immigrants of various origins. It is noted that there is a direct connection between the current perception of immigrants in Estonia and the historical past of this country. The paper describes the sharp increase in Euroscepticism in Estonia after the start of the European migration crisis in 2015, as well as the serious joint opposition of the state’s authorities and its residents to the refugee distribution quotas imposed by the European Commission. In addition to the similarities in the approaches of the two largest communities on the issue of refugees, the author also identified a number of significant differences on this topic, which is sensitive for all Estonians. The paper concludes that the refugee crisis and anti-immigrant Eurosceptic worldview have largely united ethnic Russians and Estonians living in Estonia in the face of a “common threat”. It is also justified that the present warm and hospitable attitude of ethnic Estonians towards Ukrainian refugees in the medium term may be replaced by “fatigue” and apathy towards them.

The reform of the Common European Asylum System in the context of the implementation the EU principle of solidarity

The polycrisis in the European Union has a great influence on the issue of solidarity. The events of recent years demonstrate a significant lack of solidarity within the EU. At the same time, solidarity is one of the principles of the Union’s immigration and asylum policy, as well as one of its key value. For a long time, it was assumed that all member states act in the spirit of mutual solidarity, which should flow from the very fact of a country’s membership in the EU. In other words, international solidarity within the Union is based on voluntariness, which does not require any special mechanism for its implementation. However, in recent years, this presumption has shown its inconsistency, and as a result, the idea has arisen to create a special solidarity mechanism. The migration crisis of 2015 forced the institutions of the Union to start reforming the Common European Asylum System, a key element of which is the creation of an effective solidarity mechanism within the Union. This article is devoted to the study of the transformation of the solidarity principle in the framework of the reform of the Common European Asylum System. The article highlights the main stages of the protracted reform of asylum legislation, reveals the key features of each stage from a solidarity perspective. The author comes to the conclusion that the proposed asylum system in the EU will not become fairer and will not ensure the implementation of the principle of solidarity. At the same time, the reform of the asylum policy could lead to an increase in the centralization of this policy and the expansion of the powers of the Union bodies, which will not make it possible to resolve the current problems and provide solidarity. Thus, solidarity will turn out to be only a tool in the hands of the institutions of the Union for carrying out planned reforms. According to the author, at the moment one can observe the transformation of solidarity within the EU into collectivism, when the interests of the Union are put above the interests of the member states, and the latter are forced to follow a common policy against their will.

The Role of the Visegrad Group in the European Security System

The changes taking place in Central and Eastern Europe, which began in 1989, included pri-marily the internal and foreign policy of the four countries that make up the Visegrad Group, i.e. the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The transformations also concerned rela-tions with the newly formed states after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the course of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The aim of the article is to indicate the role of the Visegrad Group in the European security system, especially in the face of the war in Ukraine or the migration crisis. An important element of the functioning of this regional organization is its cooperation with the EU or with other organizations. The research hypothesis is as follows: the future of the Visegrad Group makes sense and brings its members more benefits than losses. The article uses the analysis method. The key issue that needs to be answered will be the prospect of further activity of the Visegrad Group in the face of new threats. Will the member states of the Visegrad Group meet the challenges of the twenty-first century? Will they play an important role in shaping European security?

Managing crises as if no one is watching? Governance dilemmas from a public perspective

AbstractIn the midst of ongoing crises, understanding how citizens perceive administrative crisis management is more relevant than ever. Combining organizational literature with insights from legitimacy research, this article scrutinizes how the public evaluates governance decisions concerning prominent crisis management dilemmas: flexibility versus stability, inclusion versus exclusion, and equity‐based versus needs‐based resource distribution. The paper argues that flexible, inclusive, and equity‐based governance decisions are generally perceived as more legitimate. However, governance decisions are also associated with adverse effects that can mitigate any initially positive effect on legitimacy. The argument is tested in a large‐scale randomized survey experiment in the context of a migration crisis, where governance decisions were manipulated. The findings support the expectations for inclusive crisis management and equity‐based resource distribution, which are perceived as the most legitimate governance alternatives. Internal adaptations of administrative practices toward more flexible and adaptive solutions, however, are perceived less legitimate than stable governmental action.

Images of (in)security: Visualizing borders, migrants and control in Serbia's news media

Media images of borders and their control have been one of the most dominant frames in reporting on the migrant crisis in European media and the negative coverage of the topic of migrants, presenting them as a threat to security and public health dominates media narratives around the world. This paper examines the way migrants and refugees have been portrayed on the borders of Serbia, a transit country alongside the Western Balkans migration corridor. The mixed method analysis is based on 300 images published in relevant national and regional print media and their online versions from 2015 until 2020. The results show that the visual depiction of walls, wires, control, law and order, modern technological equipment, security providers, and important political authorities have been often intensified with sensational headlines and tabloid coverage and at the same time confronted with images framing migrants as violent and deviant, threatening borders, people, and security.

At the EU Borders – Between the Use of Information Systems in Migration Procedures and Refusal of Entry into The Country

The reason for writing this article is the fact that the migration crisis that has been ongoing in Europe since 2015 is one of the greatest challenges that the European Union (EU) has faced since its establishment. It requires Member States to fulfill their obligation to ensure the security of the EU’s external and internal borders, while respecting common values, which include solidarity and human rights. The aim of the article is to analyze and evaluate the currently functioning migration policy, especially in the context of the use of EU IT systems in the face of the phenomenon of refusal of entry into the territory of the receiving country. This combination of two research areas fills a certain gap in the current literature on the subject. De lege lata comments and de lege ferenda demands will be presented, focusing primarily on criticism of the current system. The research used two research methods typical of legal sciences: the formal-dogmatic method and the comparative method. As a summary of the findings, it can be noted that investments are actually being made in new IT systems, the potential of which is still unused, and on the other hand, it is clear that basic human rights are not fully respected in the form of allowing applications for international protection. There is a need to reform migration management at the national level of Member States to be as consistent as possible with EU law and, in particular, its fundamental values.

The EU Treaties as a Living Constitution of the Union in Times of Crisis

Since 2009, the European Union has undergone a succession of crises. It is even said to be in a sort of permacrisis: the financial crisis; the debt and euro crisis; the migration crisis; the rule of law crisis afflicting some of its member states; the process of withdrawal of the UK from the Union; the pandemic crisis; and the war in Ukraine.

Миграционная политика стран Прибалтики в контексте интересов ЕС и России

The European migration crisis has brought scholarly attention to national migration policies, including those of the Baltic states — Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia — all of which border Russia. This study aims to identify the key features of these policies, considering both Russian interests and those of the EU. To this end, this article undertakes, for the first time, a comparative analysis of the Baltic States’ relevant strategic documents for the 2020s: Lithuania’s Strategy for Demography, Migration and Integration 2018—2030, Latvia’s Guidelines for the Development of a Cohesive and Civically Active Society 2021—2027 and Estonia’s Cohesive Estonia Strategy 2021—2030. It is concluded that the migration policy of these states does not align with the interests of either the EU, whose focus is on mitigating the consequences of the migration crisis, primarily as regards refugees from Africa and the Middle East, or Russia, whose principal concern is the Baltics’ Russophone population.

Історико-теоретичні аспекти дослідження Шведської моделі розвитку

Swedish model of development is one of the most successful in the world, with high levels of well-being, social equality and economic stability. An analysis of its historical and theoretical foundations allows us to understand what factors contributed to the achievement of these results. In today’s world, many countries face challenges such as economic inequality, aging populations, migration crises, climate change, etc. The Swedish model can offer valuable experience that can be adapted by other countries to address these challenges. The object of the research is the Swedish model of socioeconomic development. The subject of the research is the historical and theoretical aspects of of studying the Swedish model of development. The aim of the article is to study the historical prerequisites and stages of formation of the socioeconomic policy of Sweden. In the course of the research, the methods of analysis and synthesis, the theoretical method, the method of comparison, the calculation and constructive method, the analytical and prognostic methods were used. The article highlights the socioeconomic and political profile of Sweden; the main stages of historical development and formation of socioeconomic policy of Sweden are identified. The authors concluded that national models of economic development, despite some common features, demonstrate unique characteristics in each country. An important aspect of the success of such models is the reliance on general principles and norms that promote socioeconomic growth. The success of the socioeconomic policy of any country is based on deep historical values, an active foreign policy and reliable social protection of citizens, including access to education, health care and social support. Achievements in the economic sphere allow Sweden to conduct an active foreign policy and strengthen its position in international organizations and entities. Sweden also uses economic leverages to advance its foreign policy goals, which provides it with influence in the international arena not only economically, but also politically and strategically. In the future, Sweden must maintain a balance between a high level of social protection and economic sustainability. It is important to improve strategies to combat unemployment and stimulate the development of innovative sectors of the economy in order to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the Swedish economy at the international level.

Financial Situation of Cities in the Lodz Voivodeship in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic – Trends of Change and Impact on Indebtedness

Purpose – The aim of this article is to identify and assess the change in the structure and direction of spending of the financial resources of the cities of Lodz Voivodeship in connection with the measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the level of debt. Research method – The study uses data obtained from two sources: a questionnaire interview conducted in the target group of towns in Lodz voivodeship and the repository of the Local Data Bank CSO. Results – The research shows that the different cities have different profiles of the activities undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic and how they were financed. The majority of cities financed these activities through targeted grants or from their own budget reserves, which implied no reduction in expenditure. A smaller number of cities financed these activities from other sources, which had the effect of reducing current and investment expenditure. Cities’ debt was increasing, but not as a direct result of the pandemic. Originality / value / implications / recommendations – On the basis of the data obtained, the authors distinguished three different profiles of actions taken to prevent the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and ways of financing the resulting expenditure for cities in the Lodz Voivodeship. The need for further analysis in the context of new challenges: migration crisis, climate crisis, energy crisis was indicated.

ЕКСТЕРНАЛІЗАЦІЯ КОРДОНУ ЄС: КООПЕРАЦІЯ ІТАЛІЇ ТА ЛІВІЇ У СФЕРІ МІГРАЦІЇ (2000 – 2010ті)

The article examines the policy of the EU border externalization, i.e. transfer of border control and responsibility for migration processes to third countries, namely the Italo-Libyan cooperation in the field of migration is examined in detail. Investigation of agreements and arrangements between the governments of the two countries in 2000–2010s was made. The terms of the agreements and methods of their implementation, the historical and political context in which these decisions were made are considered in detail. The author tries to find out whether Italy achieved the goals set by these agreements and whether the Italian government acted in accordance with European norms. Particular attention is paid to the legal aspects and principles on which the treaties between Italy and Libya are based. Attention is focused on the declared need for respect for human rights, and the lack of fulfillment of these obligations in practice. The article examines in detail the dynamics of relations between the two countries in the 2000s and their change after the outbreak of war in Libya, and the beginning of the active phase of the migration crisis in Europe. The article reveals important aspects of cooperation between these two countries, and the impact of this cooperation on migrants. The author also refers to relevant cases of the European Court of Human Rights considering claims for the forced expulsion of migrants to Libya based on bilateral agreements. Contradictions between the strategies of the EU and Italy regarding the migration crisis are also considered, the author draws attention to the lack of solidarity between EU member states, which forces states located on the external borders of the EU to cooperate with third countries in exchange for political and economic concessions. It is argued that the phenomenon of externalization of borders is complex and multidimensional, and decisions on migration regulation that include third countries require more comprehensive approaches, taking into account compliance with international obligations to protect human rights, which cannot be sacrificed solely on the basis of political necessity.

Vizinhos indesejados: cobertura midiática e disseminação de ódio contra os migrantes na América Latina

Abstract During the last decade, Latin America has witnessed an unprecedented massive current of migration flows. This migration crisis has been well documented by the local and international press. This article focuses on the reporting of the internal migration crisis in Latin America, particularly how the media has negatively framed migrants. The main objective focuses on understanding how Latin American newspapers have covered the internal migration flows? And what kind of frames promote a negative image towards migrants? As final outcomes will show, it is possible to observe how local newspapers have promoted an adverse vision towards migrants based on traditional stereotypes and prejudices.

The legacy of David Altheide to understand media logic, the migration crisis and terrorism

The legacy of David Altheide to understand media logic, the migration crisis and terrorism