The Crooked Logic of Migration Policies and Their Malthusian Roots
The Crooked Logic of Migration Policies and Their Malthusian Roots

Summary/Abstract: European perspectives on recent migration flows are heavily biased towards the Malthusian and evolutionist view of many classical western social thinkers. Althoughit may serve as a purely descriptive tool to outline the present relations between Europe and the outside world (specifically the Middle East and North Africa), it certainly doesnot provide any solid base for designing projects which might free human beings from further subjugation, poverty and entrenched inequality – precisely the reasons behind the recent migration crisis to the EU. We argue here that the way the EU perceives and dealswith the recent flow of migrants (refugees and others) is based on an out dated perceptionthat does not allow for providing valid solutions to real problems. Therefore we present theundercurrent logic behind the political designs, point out deficiencies, and illustrate a possible new approach by discussing the EU’s migration policy and border management, as linked to the EU security and defence policy. The current migration crisis would neverhave emerged if not for the lack of stability in the Middle East and North Africa, which neither the EU nor UN nor NATO was ready or able to remedy. The beginning of putting together a viable EU migration policy and border regime will depend on rethinking the security policy, decision-making and capacity, and abandoning the Malthusian perception of the world is a start.

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