Wir schaffen das! But at what cost? The Securitization of Foreign Aid to Deter Migration in the Case of the Refugee Crisis in 2015/2016 in Germany
Author
Träger, Jonas Tobias
Term
4. semester
Education
Publication year
2024
Abstract
This thesis examines how and to what extent Germany used development assistance as a security instrument to deter migration during the 2015/2016 refugee crisis. Building on scholarship about donor motives and the securitization of aid, it applies securitization theory in a qualitative case study of Germany, treated as a most-likely and extreme case. Methodologically, it combines process tracing with elements of discourse analysis to follow a causal mechanism from migration pressure to aid allocation through three steps: issue construction, audience reception, and extraordinary measures. The analysis covers bilateral actions (including a sharp increase in the BMZ budget, special initiatives, and closer integration of development and security agendas, such as more effective returns of rejected asylum seekers and the designation of safe countries of origin) and EU-level measures (the EU–Turkey Statement and the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa). Findings indicate that members of the Merkel III government made securitizing moves, though countervailing actions also occurred; the audience—both the broader public and key organizations such as GIZ and the umbrella group VENRO—was polarized but on balance more accepting than rejecting of migration as a threat. This acceptance enabled extraordinary measures, and overall the study suggests that development policy became central to the response but was largely subordinated to security imperatives and donor self-interest.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan og i hvilket omfang Tyskland anvendte udviklingsbistand som et sikkerhedspolitisk redskab til at afskrække migration under flygtningekrisen i 2015/2016. Med udgangspunkt i litteraturen om donorers motiver og sekuritisering af bistand anvendes sekuritiseringsteori som analytisk ramme i et kvalitativt casestudie af Tyskland, der betragtes som et mest sandsynligt og ekstremt tilfælde. Metodisk kombineres proces-tracing med elementer af diskursanalyse for at følge en kausal mekanisme fra migrationspres til bistandsallokering via tre led: problemkonstruktion, publikumsreaktion og ekstraordinære tiltag. Analysen omfatter både bilaterale tiltag (bl.a. et markant løft af BMZ’s budget, særlige initiativer og tættere kobling mellem udvikling og sikkerhed, herunder mere effektiv hjemsendelse af afviste asylansøgere samt udpegning af sikre oprindelseslande) og EU-niveauet (EU–Tyrkiet-erklæringen og EU’s Nødtrustfond for Afrika). Resultaterne peger på, at medlemmer af regeringen (Merkel III) fremsatte sekuritiseringstilkendegivelser, om end modsatrettede handlinger også forekom; publikum—i form af både den brede offentlighed og centrale organisationer som GIZ og paraplyorganisationen VENRO—reagerede polariseret, men samlet set mere accepterende end afvisende over for migration som en trussel. Denne accept muliggjorde ekstraordinære foranstaltninger, og samlet tyder fundene på, at udviklingspolitik blev central i responsen, men i høj grad underlagt sikkerhedspolitiske imperativer og donorselvinteresse.
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