Ibrahim

Key themes in The Securitization of Migration: A Racial Discourse by Ibrahim (2005)

1. What is securitization of migration?

2. Racialization of migrants

3. Post-9/11 dynamics

4. Discursive strategies

5. Implications

The Securitization of Migration: A Racial Discourse by Ibrahim (2005):

What is securitization of migration?

• Migration is framed by governments and media as an issue of national security rather than just economic or social policy

• Migrants, especially those from non-Western countries, are increasingly seen as potential threats to social cohesion, public safety, and national identity

The Securitization of Migration: A Racial Discourse by Ibrahim (2005):

Racialization of migrants

• Racial stereotypes influence securitization: migrants from the Global South are often portrayed as suspect, alien, or dangerous

• This racial discourse justifies harsh border controls, detention centers, deportations, and restrictive immigration laws

The Securitization of Migration: A Racial Discourse by Ibrahim (2005):

Post-9/11 dynamics

• After 9/11, the association between migration and terrorism intensified, especially targeting Muslims and people from predominantly Muslim countries

• Security policies became more openly racialized, even as governments claimed to be acting neutrally

The Securitization of Migration: A Racial Discourse by Ibrahim (2005):

Discursive strategies

• The language used in political and media discourse (e.g., floods of migrants, illegal aliens, and invasion) constructs migrants as dehumanized masses rather than individuals with rights

The Securitization of Migration: A Racial Discourse by Ibrahim (2005):

Implications

• The securitization and racialization of migration lead to erosions of civil liberties, heightened surveillance and widespread discrimination

• It also affects public perception, making it harder for migrants and refugees to be seen as legitimate, deserving members of society