The idea of an internal-external security nexus is holding greater sway in both politics and academia.
The nexus describes the blurring of two formerly distinct security spheres: internal security (domestic affairs), the domain of police and law enforcement; and external security (foreign affairs), traditionally the domain of diplomats and the military.
The internal-external security nexus is widely acknowledged in contemporary European Union (EU) documents, also in respect to the issue of migration.
Central components of the EU’s approach to the current influx of irregular migrants are to enhance the capacity of countries at the Union’s periphery in order to prevent illegal migration movement early on, to fight migrant smuggling, and to rigorously return persons who do not qualify for international protection under the 1951 Geneva Convention.
However, the EU is externally lacking partners while at the same time appearing to be internally in quarrel over how to respond.
Table of Contents
1. Short Introduction
2. (1) Discussion of Literature on the Internal-External Security Nexus
3. (2) Brief Introduction of the Cross-Border Security Phenomenon
4. (3) Analysis of Relevant Political and/or Policy Documents
5. (4) Analysis of Programs, Actions or Policy Decisions
6. (5) Conclusion
Objectives & Research Focus
This paper examines the evolving concept of the internal-external security nexus within the European Union, specifically analyzing how this framework is applied to the contemporary migrant crisis in the Mediterranean. It explores the tension between the EU's rhetorical commitment to comprehensive security strategies and the practical implementation of its policies, which often prioritize border control and repression over addressing the root causes of migratory flows.
- The theoretical evolution of the internal-external security nexus in EU discourse.
- The impact of globalization and state-level power shifts on security policy.
- Analysis of European policy documents regarding migration and security.
- The effectiveness and moral implications of EU border management and smuggling prevention.
- The discrepancy between articulated strategic intent and the actual political response to the refugee crisis.
Excerpt from the Book
(2) Brief Introduction of the Cross-Border Security Phenomenon
One such cross-border security phenomenon is irregular or illegal migration. In 2014, about 219,000 people have fled via the Mediterranean Sea, seeking safety from war, displacement, poverty, and oppression. During the first six month of 2015, another 137,000 people made the dangerous journey to Europe’s southern shores—an increase of 83% when compared to the first half of 2014. The death toll climbed dramatically as well with more than 1,800 lives lost at sea.
Most of the refugees originated from Syria, which is engulfed in civil war since 2011. According to estimates of the United Nations (UN), at least 220,000 people have perished in the war, and many more are internally displaced or have sought refuge in neighboring countries. With no end to the war in sight, the temporary refugee camps are set to become permanent establishments in neighboring Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Of the 219,000 people who made the passage over the Mediterranean Sea in 2014, 42,000 are said to have come from Syria, while an additional 34,000 are said to have fled the oppressive regime in Eritrea. Refugees have also come from Mali, Nigeria, Gambia and Somalia. The routes traversing the Mediterranean Sea to France, Malta, Italy or Greece have become the most deadly ones for refugees worldwide, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Summary of Chapters
Short Introduction: This chapter introduces the blurring of internal and external security spheres following the Cold War and explains the conceptual shift toward a more holistic, trans-boundary approach to contemporary security threats.
(1) Discussion of Literature on the Internal-External Security Nexus: This section reviews academic and political discourse, highlighting the consensus on the interlinkage of security domains while noting the lack of empirical evidence and the existence of a strategic void in implementation.
(2) Brief Introduction of the Cross-Border Security Phenomenon: This chapter provides data on the 2014-2015 migration crisis, identifying the root causes of displacement and the rising death toll in the Mediterranean as a critical security challenge.
(3) Analysis of Relevant Political and/or Policy Documents: This analysis examines how EU strategy documents officially acknowledge the security nexus but often rely on reactive, repressive measures that prioritize border containment over human security.
(4) Analysis of Programs, Actions or Policy Decisions: This section critiques specific EU operational responses, such as border control and smuggling disruption, arguing that they often contradict normative values and fail to provide sustainable solutions for refugees.
(5) Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the EU's failure to move beyond rhetoric, noting that the organization remains strategically divided and unable to address the underlying causes of the ongoing humanitarian and migration crisis.
Keywords
European Union, internal-external security nexus, migration, border management, securitization, refugee crisis, Mediterranean, organized crime, foreign policy, human security, asylum policy, trans-boundary threats, root causes, Frontex, global governance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work investigates the "internal-external security nexus," a concept describing how domestic and foreign security spheres are increasingly overlapping in the European Union, specifically in the context of Mediterranean migration.
What are the primary themes discussed in the paper?
The paper covers the evolution of security thinking, the securitization of migration, the limitations of current EU border management, and the disconnect between EU strategic rhetoric and actual policy execution.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to understand how the EU governs mobility and migration within the framework of the security nexus and why there is a significant gap between the union's stated strategic objectives and its practical policy outcomes.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper employs a policy analysis approach, examining official European Union documents, academic literature, and empirical data regarding migration flows and legislative decisions.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main part analyzes the literature on security theory, provides quantitative data on the Mediterranean refugee crisis, evaluates specific EU strategy documents, and reviews the effectiveness of operations like 'Mare Nostrum' and Frontex activities.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The study is best characterized by terms such as European Union, internal-external security nexus, securitization, illegal migration, and border management.
How does the author view the EU's current approach to migration?
The author argues that the EU's approach is overly reactive and repressive, focusing on border protection rather than addressing the root causes of migration, which ultimately undermines the union's image as a normative security provider.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the 'security nexus' concept?
The author concludes that while the internal-external security nexus is a significant concept for understanding modern governance, it remains largely aspirational in the EU, as the member states lack the unified political will to transform rhetoric into consistent, effective action.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Stefan Pauly (Autor:in), 2015, The Internal-External Security Nexus. Achieving Internal Security by Creating a Secure External Environment and the Current Migrant Crisis in the Mediterranean, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/303983
