oiip

The Impact of Migration on International Relations: Power Relations, Security, and Migration Diplomacy Reexamined

Policy Brief created jointly between the University of Continuing Education Krems (UWK) and the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip)
January 2024
Heidrun Bohnet, Federica Zardo (UWK)
Clemens Binder, Müge Dalkiran, Cengiz Günay,
Daniela Pisoiu, Vedran Dzihic and Sophie Reichelt (oiip)

Key findings

• The increased salience of migration in the political agenda has transformed International Relations (IR). It has primarily affected the areas of power relations, security, and diplomacy.
• Migration has reshaped power relations in two ways. First, it has put greater emphasis on security policies and instruments, and second, it has strengthened the European Union’s engagement with third countries.
• While the concept of "migration diplomacy", which refers to migration as a diplomatic tool, has partially captured the link between migration and IR, the study of migration in IR remains a scientific niche dominated by Eurocentrism. Historically, the political emphasis has predominantly centred around migration as a security threat, a trend that gained momentum post-9/11 and intensified during the so-called refugee crisis of 2015.
• The securitization of migration, though, may create new security challenges. It pushes, for example, migrants towards more dangerous routes and illegal pathways. It also fosters misconceptions among stakeholders who associate migration with heightened conflict and terrorism risks in host countries.
• The securitization of migration in political debates has also securitized migration research. While broadening the understanding of themes like surveillance technologies and border control, the focus on security has de-complexified migration and overshadowed important topics like the migration-development-peace nexus.
• Recent research on the migration-security nexus has played a pivotal role in uncovering misconceptions. For instance, it has challenged the prevailing belief that restrictive migration policies inherently reduce security risks. Increasing the rights of refugees can diminish grievances, lowering the risk of radicalization.
• Contrary to widespread debates, research findings indicate that migration and displacement do not necessarily heighten the risk of conflict and terrorism. Moreover, climate-induced migration may not exacerbate security risks, as it is often short-term and internal.
• Policy debates must recognize that migration within IR transcends being solely a security issue. Instead, it involves intricate interlinkages that demand thorough scrutiny beyond Eurocentric security perspectives.

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