The Securitization of Migration in Austria Paul Ploberger Tihany,

Overview  What happened?  What is „security“?  What is „securitization“?  What is wrong with „securitization“?  What does that mean for migration?  What to take away from this talk

What happened?  Recruitment of „guest workers“ throughout the 1960ies  Seen as necessary for economic growth  Migration as part of labor market politics

What happened?

 Oil crisis in 1974  Organized crime as new topic  90ies: threat to  Austrian identity  Welfare system  Economic development  Shift in migration patterns (S-N -> E-W)  Rise of Austrian Freedom Party

What happened? Jörg Haider († 2008) Rightwing populist party In government from 2000 to 2006

What happened?  Shift in institutional setting  Fremdenkriminalität („crime committed by foreigners“)  Connection: migrants – security of Austrian population  Expansion of „security“ limitation of migration and asylum

What is „security“?  (Military) survival of nation-state  Broadening of concept after Cold War  „Enemies“ „threats“ and „risks“  Nation-state individuals  „Widening and deepening“ of security

What is „security“?  Security is  Not clear-cut but ambiguous and contested  Not a material good but a social construct  There is no security issue per se  An issue has to be made a security issue

What is „securitization“? Non- politicized politicized securitized

What is „securitization“?  Discoursive concept  Security located in language  Securitization is a Speech Act with a certain modality and logic:  Existential threat  Substantial consequences  Need to react right away

What’s wrong with “securitization”?  Indicates threat and immediate reaction  One solution as adequate  Limits dialog and opportunities for other solutions  Potentially undemocratic  Might undermine rights and liberties  Transparency and accountability?

What does this mean for migration?  Migrants/migration as possible threat legitimizes drastic measures  Limits to possibilities of migration  worsening of situation of migrants  „regular“ migration versus „irregular“ migration

What to take away from this talk  Security is highly ambiguous and controversial  A security issue has to be made  Question security issues!

Thank you!