An Institutional Approach to Bordering in Islands: The Canary Islands on the African-European Migration Routes
Islands play a significant role in international irregular maritime migration. Frequently they are part of maritime interstitial spaces between states, and their location, combined with institutional membership, makes them part of international migration routes and subject to border management strat...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Island Studies Journal
2012-05-01
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| Series: | Island Studies Journal |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.260 |
| _version_ | 1797799973966839808 |
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| author | Dirk Godenau |
| author_facet | Dirk Godenau |
| author_sort | Dirk Godenau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Islands play a significant role in international irregular maritime migration. Frequently they are part of maritime interstitial spaces between states, and their location, combined with institutional membership, makes them part of international migration routes and subject to border management strategies. In this paper borders are analysed as social institutions used for regulating relative permeability through rules of entry and exit for persons, goods and capital. Borders institutionalize territoriality and are politically implemented by states. They are selective, also in migration, and irregular border transit is not always indicative of an inability to control. The Canary Islands are used as an illustrative example of how border management at the southern edge of the European Union has evolved towards more coercive deterrence and tighter surveillance. The Canary Islands experienced irregular maritime immigration from the west African coasts during the first decade of the 21st century and most of these migrants intended to use the islands as transit space towards the European continent. Increasing surveillance in countries of origin, enforcement of border controls and stricter return policies were used to stop flows. The so-called “cayuco crisis” in 2006 induced institutional change in border management and forced the active involvement of the EU through FRONTEX. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:27:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68483935a58d4ba0b6beaed7135cfe93 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1715-2593 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:27:52Z |
| publishDate | 2012-05-01 |
| publisher | Island Studies Journal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Island Studies Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-68483935a58d4ba0b6beaed7135cfe932023-06-20T00:49:46ZengIsland Studies JournalIsland Studies Journal1715-25932012-05-0172An Institutional Approach to Bordering in Islands: The Canary Islands on the African-European Migration RoutesDirk GodenauIslands play a significant role in international irregular maritime migration. Frequently they are part of maritime interstitial spaces between states, and their location, combined with institutional membership, makes them part of international migration routes and subject to border management strategies. In this paper borders are analysed as social institutions used for regulating relative permeability through rules of entry and exit for persons, goods and capital. Borders institutionalize territoriality and are politically implemented by states. They are selective, also in migration, and irregular border transit is not always indicative of an inability to control. The Canary Islands are used as an illustrative example of how border management at the southern edge of the European Union has evolved towards more coercive deterrence and tighter surveillance. The Canary Islands experienced irregular maritime immigration from the west African coasts during the first decade of the 21st century and most of these migrants intended to use the islands as transit space towards the European continent. Increasing surveillance in countries of origin, enforcement of border controls and stricter return policies were used to stop flows. The so-called “cayuco crisis” in 2006 induced institutional change in border management and forced the active involvement of the EU through FRONTEX.https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.260 |
| spellingShingle | Dirk Godenau An Institutional Approach to Bordering in Islands: The Canary Islands on the African-European Migration Routes Island Studies Journal |
| title | An Institutional Approach to Bordering in Islands: The Canary Islands on the African-European Migration Routes |
| title_full | An Institutional Approach to Bordering in Islands: The Canary Islands on the African-European Migration Routes |
| title_fullStr | An Institutional Approach to Bordering in Islands: The Canary Islands on the African-European Migration Routes |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Institutional Approach to Bordering in Islands: The Canary Islands on the African-European Migration Routes |
| title_short | An Institutional Approach to Bordering in Islands: The Canary Islands on the African-European Migration Routes |
| title_sort | institutional approach to bordering in islands the canary islands on the african european migration routes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.260 |
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