Securitisation of Borders and the UN's Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

16 Pages Posted: 11 Jan 2018

See all articles by Eva Nanopoulos

Eva Nanopoulos

Queen Mary University of London

Elspeth Guild

Queen Mary University of London, School of Law

Katharine Weatherhead

Queen Mary University of London

Date Written: January 11, 2018

Abstract

This working paper examines the issue of security, securitisation of borders, and migration control, in the context of the UN’s negotiations towards a Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration called for in the UN General Assembly’s New York Declaration (NYD) of 19 September 2016. We consider three main questions: 1) What is the relationship between border control and national security? 2) How does return at borders in a securitised policy field relate to the notion of safe, orderly and regular migration? 3) How does securitisation entrench differentiations between human rights subjects? We argue that it is neither necessary nor desirable, when considering both policy and human rights interests, for security to be the lens with which States view border control. Drawing upon historical and current examples of approaches to the movement of people across international borders, we contend that safe, orderly and regular migration is jeopardised by securitisation. If the international community really wishes to institute a system of safe, orderly and regular migration then immigration control and border control must be disaggregated.

Keywords: UN Global Compact, Migration, Securitisation, Control, Borders, Human Rights

Suggested Citation

Nanopoulos, Eva and Guild, Elspeth and Weatherhead, Katharine, Securitisation of Borders and the UN's Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (January 11, 2018). Queen Mary School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 270/2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3099996

Eva Nanopoulos (Contact Author)

Queen Mary University of London ( email )

Mile End Road
London, London E1 4NS
United Kingdom

Elspeth Guild

Queen Mary University of London, School of Law ( email )

Mile End Road
Lincoln's Inn Fields
London, London E1 4NS
United Kingdom

Katharine Weatherhead

Queen Mary University of London ( email )

Mile End Road
London, London E1 4NS
United Kingdom

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