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Vernacular imaginaries of European border security among citizens: From walls to information management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2018

Georg Löfflmann  and
Nick Vaughan-Williams
Georg Löfflmann*
Affiliation:
Politics and International Studies (PAIS), University of Warwick
Nick Vaughan-Williams
Affiliation:
Politics and International Studies (PAIS), University of Warwick
*
*Corresponding author. Email: g.lofflmann@warwick.ac.uk
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Abstract

Our primary aim in this article is to explore vernacular constructions of Europe’s so-called ‘migration crisis’ from the grounded everyday perspectives of EU citizens. We do so as a critical counterpoint to dominant elite scripts of the crisis, which are often reliant upon securitised representations of public opinion as being overwhelmingly hostile to migrants and refugees and straightforwardly in favour of tougher deterrent border security. In addition to broadening the range of issues analysed in vernacular security studies, the article seeks to make three principal contributions. Theoretically, we argue for an approach to the study of citizens’ views and experiences of migration and border security that is sensitive to the performative effects of research methods and the circular logic between securitising modes of knowledge production and policy justification. Methodologically, we outline and apply an alternative approach in response to these dynamics, drawing on the potential of critical focus groups and a desecuritising ethos. Empirically, we identify a vernacular theory of ‘the border’ as information management, and a significant information gap prevalent among participants with otherwise opposing views towards migration. These findings challenge bifurcated understandings of public opinion towards migration into Europe and point to the existence of vernacular border security imaginaries beyond either ‘closed’ or ‘open’ borders.

Keywords

Vernacular SecurityBorder SecurityMigrationEuropeDesecuritising Methods
Type
Research Article
Information
European Journal of International Security , Volume 3 , Issue 3 , October 2018 , pp. 382 - 400
Copyright
© British International Studies Association 2018 

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