Border managment in Europe : The political dynamics of (de)Europeanization

Follis, Karolina (2026) Border managment in Europe : The political dynamics of (de)Europeanization. In: The Routledge Handbook of the Politics of Migration in Europe :. Routledge, London. ISBN 9781032497938 (In Press)

Abstract

This chapter examines the evolution of border management in Europe through the lens of critical border studies. It explores how European Union (EU) policies have influenced border control, emphasizing the tension between security and humanitarianism. While EU institutions shaped Member State actions through European Integrated Border Management (EIBM), national governments continue to assert sovereignty over their borders. The chapter introduces the concepts of "EUropeanization" and "de-Europeanization" to describe the dynamic processes of border governance. EUropeanization refers to the diffusion of EU-sponsored border knowledge, surveillance technologies, and data infrastructures, while de-Europeanization captures instances where member states opt out of or resist EU border policies. This dual process is evident in cases like Poland’s refusal to cooperate with Frontex during the 2021 Belarus border crisis or in the externalization of border control to non-EU states. The discourse surrounding border management has shifted from fundamental rights to narratives of security and deterrence, increasingly legitimizing state violence. Ultimately, the chapter argues that the Europeanization of border management is neither uniform nor irreversible, as states navigate competing imperatives of control, humanitarianism, and political self-interest. The exclusionary logic of border control remains dominant, necessitating further critical inquiry into its consequences for migrants and border practitioners alike.