The Effects of Italy’s Securitization Policies on Irregular Migration from Africa

This research investigated the effects of Italy’s securitization policies on irregular migration from Africa. In Italy, migration has bred controversy due to the complexity of migrant sharing across European union states. Additionally, Italian politicians and the media have shaped the conversation around irregular migration from Africa, resulting in the public opinion that Italy is threatened by allowing thousands of refugees through its borders. The issue has become central to the political agenda in the country through politicization. Migrants are seen as desperate, illegal, undocumented threats to the security and cultural fabric of societies among other negative nuances. However, what is required is an understanding of the motivations behind migration. The scope of the study is the Niger-Libya corridor that aids movement into Italy. The objectives of the researcher were to understand the role of transit nations in aiding migration, the fallout from a security-oriented approach by Italy to irregular migration from Africa, and the effects of this stance. The research is based on the theory of securitization, hat explains the perception that has been created around the sector and the processes that have been involved in the same. The data was collected through in-depth interviews and open ended questionnaires posed to migration experts with close proximity to Niger, Libya and Italy. Experts agree that migration from North Africa needs to be de-securitized and implement change from protectionist approaches such as border surveillance and military deployments and missions, to dialogue on the long-term support of humanitarian efforts and the ease of access to other nations in terms of visa applications and requirements. Discussions and findings also surround encouraging circular migration, the creation of professional skills centres in transit nations and the creation of a humanitarian visa to protect those fleeing war and violence from their countries of origin.