La « crise migratoire » de 2015/16 en Europe : interprétation géohistorique

Abstract

This article analyzes the increase in the number of asylum claims submitted either in-country or at the border of Western democracies and the resulting 2015–2016 “migrant crisis.” Although the proliferation of outbreaks of violence near Europe has played a central role, three long-standing geographical trends must also be taken into account when considering this issue: the shrinking of geographical distance, the detention policy crisis and geographically asymmetrical rights. These trends mean that the reaction of closing borders can be interpreted as an attempt to keep refugees at a distance once again, against a background of globalization. The analysis finishes with a geohistorical approach to recent literature on the “migrant crisis,” focusing on the role of populist parties, the fear of terrorism, and the dysfunctionality of solidarity mechanisms.