Seefeld – ESI presentation on deadly borders and humane control

13 November 2024
Seefeld
Photo: Räsonanz Seefeld/Uli Leinfelder

ESI’s Gerald Knaus was invited to give a lecture on “Deadly borders, humane control - what migration policy do we need?” at the Räsonanz Seefeld e.V. cultural association.

In his talk, he examined Europe’s deadly and inhumane border policies, highlighting the EU's failures in managing migration. Combining empirical evidence with ethical reasoning, Gerald challenged the narrative of right-wing populists, who claim that irregular migration poses an existential threat and that controlling it inevitably involves “ugly images” – a euphemism for outright border violence. However, he cautioned that right-wing parties are currently the most vocal on this issue, advocating extreme measures such as mass deportations, “remigration” programs, and the construction of border walls.

To address these challenges, Gerald proposed morally defensible strategies to reduce irregular migration. He pointed to the 2016 EU-Turkey agreement as an example of a humane solution that successfully decreased deaths and irregular crossings by removing the incentive to undertake dangerous journeys. He emphasized the need for mutually beneficial migration agreements, such as safe third-country partnerships, to establish legal migration pathways and create a sense of humane and effective control at the EU’s borders.