Review article

Irregular migration and security: Transit countries on the Balkan route during and after the 2015/2016 migrant crisis

Goran Džidić orcid.org/0000-0001-9369-1231 ; Fakultet političkih znanosti Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Republika Hrvatska

Abstract

Irregular migration from the countries of the Middle East, North‎Africa and Asia towards the European Union has caused various‎security implications for transit countries on the Balkan route,‎which was particularly noticeable during the 2015/2016 EU migrant‎crisis. Irregular migration towards the EU continued even‎after 2016, and as a result, transit countries found themselves in‎a very difficult position. The paper analyzes the changes in the‎perception of transit countries in relation to irregular migration‎as a security threat in the period from the beginning of the migration‎crisis in 2015/2016 and in the period that followed. As case‎studies, the paper includes Serbia, Hungary and Slovenia. The securitization‎of irregular migration through speech act (media and‎political discourse) and securitization through practices (security‎practices) indicate that Serbia and Slovenia have made considerable‎progress towards the securitization of irregular migration,‎while Hungary further strengthened its already rigorous stances‎on migration policy.‎

Keywords

migration; irregular migration; transit countries, securitization; security

Hrčak ID:

303588

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/303588

Publication date:

7.6.2023.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 1.126 *