migration, protection of cultural identity, cultural homogeneity, Euro-racism and the paradox of EU migration policy. The Politicisation of Migration The politicisation of migration is a concept similar to the concept Europeanization and yet another interesting aspect to accentuate from Huysmans article. Even though not particularly distinguishing immigrants from refugees and asylum seekers, Huysmans specifically points to the politicisation of asylum seekers: “(…) Immigration has been increasingly politicized through the question of asylum, or more precisely through the (con)fusion of immigration and asylum. Asylum has been increasingly politicized as an alternative route for economic immigration in the EU.” (Huysmans 2000: 755 l. 11-14) According to Huysmans the politicisation of immigration has led the tendency towards not differentiating between the categories; immigrant, asylum seekers etc. and furthermore the asylum seekers’ motives for fleeing are increasingly being regarded as economical. In the quote Huysmans points the attention to another aspect of this politicisation: “The cultural mixing resulting from migration is politicized on the ground that multicultural developments challenge the desire for coinciding cultural and political frontiers” (Huysmans 2000: 762 l. 25-27) The quote illustrates, how Huysmans argues that the cultural diversity in the EU, which is caused by migration, is being politicised in a way where it becomes accepted not to differentiate between politics and culture, and as a result the protection of cultural identity is being carried out politically. Subsequently, it has become natural also to regard the question of security as a question concerning culture and cultural protection.
migration, protection of cultural identity, cultural homogeneity, Euro-racism and the paradox of EU migration policy. The Politicisation of Migration The politicisation of migration is a concept similar to the concept Europeanization and yet another interesting aspect to accentuate from Huysmans article. Even though not particularly distinguishing immigrants from refugees and asylum seekers, Huysmans specifically points to the politicisation of asylum seekers: “(…) Immigration has been increasingly politicized through the question of asylum, or more precisely through the (con)fusion of immigration and asylum. Asylum has been increasingly politicized as an alternative route for economic immigration in the EU.” (Huysmans 2000: 755 l. 11-14) According to Huysmans the politicisation of immigration has led the tendency towards not differentiating between the categories; immigrant, asylum seekers etc. and furthermore the asylum seekers’ motives for fleeing are increasingly being regarded as economical. In the quote Huysmans points the attention to another aspect of this politicisation: “The cultural mixing resulting from migration is politicized on the ground that multicultural developments challenge the desire for coinciding cultural and political frontiers” (Huysmans 2000: 762 l. 25-27) The quote illustrates, how Huysmans argues that the cultural diversity in the EU, which is caused by migration, is being politicised in a way where it becomes accepted not to differentiate between politics and culture, and as a result the protection of cultural identity is being carried out politically. Subsequently, it has become natural also to regard the question of security as a question concerning culture and cultural protection.
European_Solidarity_.docx