Did 9/11 matter? Securitisation of asylum and migration in the European Union from 1992 to 2008

This paper analyses the effect of 9/11 on securitization of asylum and immigration in the EU from 1992 to 2008 at the supranational level. It explores the assumption that 9/11 did in fact change asylum and immigration policies. Additionally, it offers an interpretation of how asylum and migration in the EU have been securitized, thereby contributing to a better understanding of the process of securitization. Briefly, this paper finds that the escalated securitization manifested both qualitative and quantitative change. For instance, quantitative change is found in political discourse and qualitative change is identified in the establishment of a permanent state of emergency. Finally, given its regional focus, this paper aids the understanding of the integration and supranationalization of asylum and immigration policies within the EU.