The Migration of Power and North-South Inequalities : The Case of Italy and Libya

This book examines negotiations on migration in the Mediterranean. It argues that migration is a bargaining chip which countries in the South use to increase their leverage versus their counterparts in the North. This proposition opens up new understandings reframing relations of inequalities among states. 'This book fills an enormous gap in social science knowledge about international migration to and from Libya and more broadly about migration from MENA and sub-Saharan Africa to Europe. It makes a singular contribution to Mediterranean studies and to security studies. This book will be widely read by students of international relations.' - Mark J. Miller, Emma Smith Morris Professor, Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware, USA 'Emanuela Paoletti develops a highly original approach to the analysis of power in Italian-Libyan bilateral migration ties. Her close and careful analysis of the dynamics of power relations and international migration makes a major contribution that will be of significant benefit to students of international migration.' - Professor Andrew Geddes, Head of Department of Politics, University of Sheffield, UK 'An innovative and courageous exploration into one of the empirical fields -- i.e. the complex and often opaque theatre of bilateral and multilateral relations at the 'border' between the EU and Libya -- which is shaping more deeply and contentiously the future of both Europe's migration policies and external relations.' - Ferruccio Pastore, Director of FIERI (International and European Forum for Migration Research), Italy 'Although this book is primarily directed towards Italian and European engagement with Libya over the growing problem of irregular migration, it highlights the much wider issues now dominating European concerns about border security in the Mediterranean. It is an excellent introduction to a problem that is going to preoccupy European statement for years to come as economic crisis and climate change stimulate migration at an ever-accelerating rate. It should be essential reading for scholar and politician alike!' -George Joffe, Research Fellow, Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS), University of Cambridge, UK This book examines negotiations on migration in the Mediterranean. It argues that migration is a bargaining chip which countries in the South use to increase their leverage versus their counterparts in the North. This proposition opens up new understandings reframing relations of inequalities among states. International migration significantly affects relations of power between countries in the North versus those in the South. This book analyses the contested practice of states to shift border control measures outside their territory, i.e. externalisation. Special attention is devoted to the collaboration on migration between Italy and Libya. Paoletti investigates the extent to which evolving perceptions of migration have affected their wider negotiations. She argues that migration is a bargaining chip which the migrant-sending country uses to manipulate the migrant-receiving one in order to advance its own agenda. This proposition opens up new understandings reframing relations of inequalities among states