Expanding Boundaries : Borders, Mobilities and the Future of Europe-Africa Relations

This book challenges the common European notions about African migration to Europe and offers a holistic understanding of the current situation in Africa. It advocates a need to rethink Africa-Europe relations and view migration and borders as a resource rather than sources of a crisis. Migrant movement from Africa is often misunderstood and misrepresented as invasion caused by displacement due to poverty, violent conflict and environmental stress. To control this movement and preserve national identities, the EU and its various member states resort to closing borders as a way of reinforcing their migration policies. This book aims to dismantle this stereotypical view of migration from Africa by sharing cutting-edge research from the leading scholars in Africa and Europe. It refutes the flawed narratives that position Africa as a threat to the European societies, their economies and security, and encourages a nuanced understanding of the root causes as well as the socioeconomic factors that guide the migrants’ decision-making. With chapters written in a concise style, this book brings together the migration and border studies in an innovative way to delve into the broader societal impacts of both. It also serves to de-silence the African voices in order to offer fresh insights on African migration – a discourse dominated hitherto by the European perspective. This book constitutes a valuable resource for research scholars and students of Border Studies, Migration Studies, Conflict and Security Studies, and Development Studies seeking specialisation in these areas. Written in an accessible style, it will also appeal to a more general public interested in gaining a fuller perspective on the African reality. Chapter 13 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of contents Illustrations Contributors Part I Critical perspectives on border regimes 1 Pushing the boundaries forwards: Shifting notes on the implications of European border control externalisation beyond ... Do with them to fix them at home The evolution of public action on migration in Cameroon The migration and co-development couple in the light of Cameroon–EU cooperation CSOs at the forefront Thinking and dreaming of elsewhere Banality and counter-geographies of European measures: “Lines of resistance”5 in minor mode? Conclusion Notes References 2 The Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community: The EU-African information sharing platform on migration and border issues Externalisation of border management The idea of the Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community Information platform on migration and border issues Conclusion References 3 Mainstreaming intelligence and information technology in border governance: A transcontinental mechanism for migration flow Introduction Cross-border security challenges in West Africa Context The issues The history of African borders and the rise of transnational organised crime Need for improved security and intelligence The African Union Border Programme The ECOWAS Common Approach principle – PROTOCOL A/P.1/5/79 Phase 1 – Right to entry and the abolition of visas (5 years) Phase 2 – The right to residency (5 years) Phase 3 – The right to establishment (5 years) Limitations of the protocol Best practice in securing borders Information technology and intelligence gathering: The new face of border security management Conclusion References 4 Death as policy: The EU’s criminalisation of solidarity with undocumented migrants Introduction The banality of a deadly bureaucracy EU’s train wreck in slow motion Conclusion References 5 The Euro–African frontier regime between humanitarian reason and the security imperative Introduction Humanitarian action within a securitised space Safe corridors for a right to mobility Who deserves to cross? Conclusions Notes References Part II Political transnationalism and policy impact 6 African and European legal regimes for intra-continental migration: Towards an Afro-European integration scheme Introduction Legal instruments Content of the Free Movement Directive The historical evolution Implementation of free movement regulatory frameworks Post-Cotonou negotiations: Lessons learned? Conclusion References 7 “Solidarité en mouvement” against homeland authoritarianism: Political transnationalism of Europe-based Central African migra Introduction Conceptual and theoretical considerations Homeland authoritarianism Solidarité en mouvement Understanding “solidarité en mouvement” through the political transnationalism lens Methodology Cosmetic democracy and harrowing treks Contesting homeland authoritarianism from Europe Mutual assistance during transnational public protests and demonstrations Collaborating during mutakalisation of homeland government elites Networking during disruption of homeland artists’ performance in Europe Towards the solidarity against homeland authoritarianism Conclusion Notes References 8 Staying because of all odds: Lived experiences of African student migrants in Finland Changing mobilities and changing spaces Contemporary Africa–Europe migration: the Finnish case Mode of inquiry Unpacking the practices of exclusion The Finnish residence regime and the legal other Courting the Finnish community of value Alternative belonging: economic citizenship and valid workers Outcomes of pervasive internal bordering Concluding remarks References 9 Untying the migration knot through trade: A case study of Nigeria Introduction Background The migration knot and dependency theory Why trade? Harnessing agribusiness for trade and development EU–Africa trade agreements: Why have they failed? A SMART development objective: developing the agribusiness sector in Nigeria Conclusion Notes References 10 Transnationalising business and innovation ecosystems shaping EU-Africa relations: A case study of Finland and Namibia Introduction Ecosystems for economic learning Policy fostering the ecosystems and platforms Proximities enabling economic learning on platforms Data and method: “Approach in identifying a platform in an ecosystem” Building ecosystems between Finland and Namibia Innovation hubs and start-ups for development Finnish business with impact policy in southern Africa Local innovation platform rooting for the transnational ecosystem Ecosystems, development, and changing migration dynamics Conclusions Note References Part III Alternative framings for Europe-Africa relations 11 Contemporary representations of migration in African writing Migration and aesthetics The (undeserving) economic migrant Victimhood and complex agency Conclusion References 12 Re-imagining the “Area of Freedom, Security and Justice”: Europe’s security measures experienced by African migrants Introduction Securitizing migration – bordering Europe Experiencing Europe’s bordering practices in Africa Encountering the border and the image of Europe Security measures in the everyday Detention and deportation as forms of violent migration management Concluding remarks Acknowledgement References 13 Safe European home – Where did you go? On immigration, the b/ordered self, and the territorial home Challenges for the EU as post-national political project A homogenous home and the irruptions of enjoyment Money well spent? The value of border security United we stand, divided we fall Conclusion: A broken home, a broken heart Notes References 14 Climate change and the migration conundrum: Addressing the elephant in the room Introduction Understanding the key variables Charting a path in the context of climate change Community-level resilience Political instability and ethnic conflict Conclusions Note References 15 Unveiling the Afro-European common geo-cultural space Introduction Conceptual clarifications Reframing borders in the global world system Concluding remarks References Closing remarks: Expanding the boundaries of Euro–Africa relations References Index This book challenges the common European notions about African migration to Europe and offers a holistic understanding of the current situation in Africa. It advocates a need to rethink Africa-Europe relations and view migration and borders as a resource rather than sources of a crisis.Migrant movement from Africa is often misunderstood and misrepresented as invasion caused by displacement due to poverty, violent conflict and environmental stress. To control this movement and preserve national identities, the EU and its various member states resort to closing borders as a way of reinforcing their migration policies. This book aims to dismantle this stereotypical view of migration from Africa by sharing cutting-edge research from the leading scholars in Africa and Europe. It refutes the flawed narratives that position Africa as a threat to the European societies, their economies and security, and encourages a nuanced understanding of the root causes as well as the socioeconomic factors that guide the migrants'decision-making. With chapters written in a concise style, this book brings together the migration and border studies in an innovative way to delve into the broader societal impacts of both. It also serves to de-silence the African voices in order to offer fresh insights on African migration – a discourse dominated hitherto by the European perspective.This book constitutes a valuable resource for research scholars and students of Border Studies, Migration Studies, Conflict and Security Studies, and Development Studies seeking specialisation in these areas. Written in an accessible style, it will also appeal to a more general public interested in gaining a fuller perspective on the African reality.Chapter 13 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.