Protecting Our European Way of Life: An analysis on how danger is contructed and maintained in the European Union
Author
Lund-Larsen, Ida Haubart
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-10-15
Pages
68
Abstract
This thesis examines the relationship between the private security industry and the European Commission to show how commercial actors shape the EU’s long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021–2027. Focusing on the “Migration & Border Management” and “Security & Defence” areas, it uses the MFF as a case to demonstrate how the Commission administratively treats migration as a security issue. At the time of the study, the budget was being negotiated among EU institutions. Using the Paris School of security studies (Bigo and Huysmans)—which explores how language, routines, and institutions construct threats—the thesis argues that both the Commission and the private security industry frame migration as an existential threat through discursive and institutional practices. This framing sidelines a refugee perspective and weakens humanitarian responses. The thesis challenges a narrow view of “securitization” as only exclusion, criminalization, and border militarization. It argues that securitization is also part of a broader economic and market-building logic: investments in the private security sector help sustain a lucrative and competitive single market within the EU. The analysis is informed by five months interning in the European Parliament in Brussels, observing lobbying both in public and behind the scenes. Drawing on Goffman’s performance theory, it interprets these ethnographic observations to show how boundaries between public institutions and private interests blur, and how policy influence takes place in practice. These insights are combined with an examination of how private security companies lobby and build relationships with policymakers to maintain their influence. Overall, the thesis argues that neoliberalization and market logic enable private actors to act as both advisers to—and vendors for—the EU.
Dette speciale undersøger forholdet mellem den private sikkerhedsindustri og Europa-Kommissionen for at belyse, hvordan kommercielle aktører påvirker udformningen af EU’s langsigtede budget, den flerårige finansielle ramme (MFF) 2021–2027. Med særligt fokus på budgetområderne “Migration & Border Management” og “Security & Defence” bruges MFF som en case til at vise, hvordan migration i Kommissionens administration behandles som et sikkerhedsanliggende. På tidspunktet for undersøgelsen blev budgettet forhandlet mellem EU-institutionerne. Med udgangspunkt i den såkaldte Paris-skole inden for sikkerhedsstudier (Bigo og Huysmans) – som undersøger, hvordan sprog, rutiner og institutioner skaber forestillinger om trusler – argumenterer specialet for, at både Kommissionen og den private sikkerhedsindustri gennem diskursive og institutionelle praksisser fremstiller migration som en eksistentiel trussel. Denne framing skubber et flygtninge- og humanitært perspektiv i baggrunden og svækker dermed den humanitære respons. Specialet udfordrer en snæver forståelse af “sekuritisering” som blot eksklusion, kriminalisering og militarisering af grænser. I stedet fremhæves, at sekuritiseringen også indgår i en bredere økonomisk og markedsdreven logik: Investeringer i den private sikkerhedssektor bidrager til at opretholde et lukrativt og konkurrencedygtigt indre marked i EU. Undersøgelsen er inspireret af fem måneders praktik i Europa-Parlamentet i Bruxelles, hvor lobbyisme – både offentligt og bag kulisserne – blev observeret på nært hold. Med begreber fra Goffmans performanceteori fortolkes disse etnografiske iagttagelser for at vise, hvordan grænserne mellem offentlige institutioner og private interesser udviskes, og hvordan politik påvirkes i praksis. Disse indsigter kombineres med en analyse af, hvordan private sikkerhedsfirmaer lobbyer og opbygger relationer til beslutningstagere for at fastholde deres indflydelse. Samlet set argumenterer specialet for, at en proces af neoliberalisering og markedstænkning gør det muligt for private aktører både at være rådgivere for – og leverandører til – EU.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]