The Securitization of Humanitarian Migration: Digging moats and sinking boats (Routledge Advances in International Relations and Global Politics)

This book examines how western liberal states are progressively restricting access to refugees and asylum seekers, even though these states have signed international agreements obliging them to offer protection to those fleeing persecution and to advocate the spread of human rights and humanitarian principles. Watson examines how refugees and asylum seekers have come to be treated so poorly by these states through the use of policies such as visa requirements, mandatory detention and prevention/return policies. Providing extensive documentary analysis of debates on ‘restrictive’ refugee policies in Canada and Australia, the author addresses the relationship between security and migration, an issue of increased importance in the aftermath of 9/11 and the war on terror. He then examines hotly-contested policies such as detention and the forceful return of asylum seekers to demonstrate how attempts to securitise these issues have been resisted in the media and by political opposition. Given the importance of providing refuge for persecuted populations, not only to ensure the survival of targeted individuals, but also to maintain international peace and security, the erosion of protective measures is of great importance today. The book will be of interest to students and scholars of international security, international relations, migration and human rights Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 8 Copyright......Page 9 Contents......Page 10 Tables......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 1 Migration and securitization......Page 28 2 Norms of the international refugee regime......Page 46 3 Detention and naval interception in Canada......Page 67 4 Naval interception and detention in Australia......Page 92 5 Visa requirements in Canada and Australia......Page 127 Conclusion......Page 152 Notes......Page 166 Bibliographic references......Page 167 Index......Page 187 As western liberal states progressively restrict access to refugees and asylum seekers, this book explores how migration has been securitized using detailed case-studies on policies in Canada and Australia