Biopolitics During COVID-19 Pandemic: Migration Movements and Border Practices in Europe

Öz

In the domain of migration management, border practices constitute the subject of a basic laboratory. This is because the border practices might demonstrate flexibility and diverse policies during extraordinary periods/occasions. Currently, worldwide COVID-19 as a relatively new outbreak is being investigated especially from a biopolitical perspective by some researchers. The main purpose of the paper is understanding how some of the EU members cope with the regular migrants within the framework of Foucauldian biopolitics in such an extraordinary time. This research period extends January-December 2020. Four European countries were selected since practices concerning migrants and fair geographical distribution. As a conclusion, one can state that the decisions in crisis situations can be reconsidered for disadvantaged groups. In times of crisis the permeability of borders may be subjected to change. Some groups should be exempted from general decisions. Despite of all the restrictions, borders should be more permeable for effective bodies.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• EU
• COVID-19
• Border Policy
• Biopolitics
• Migration

Biopolitics During COVID-19 Pandemic: Migration Movements and Border Practices in Europe

Öz

Göç yönetiminde, sınır pratikleri temel bir laboratuvar olarak incelenmektedir. Çünkü sınır pratiklerinde olağanüstü dönemlerde/durumlarda esneklikler olabilmekte ve farklı politikalar uygulanabilmektedir. Şu anda, dünya çapında nispeten yeni bir salgın olan COVID-19, bazı araştırmacılar tarafından özellikle biyopolitik bir bakış açısıyla ele alınmıştır. Makalenin temel amacı, böylesine olağanüstü bir zamanda bazı AB üye devletlerinin göçmenleri Foucaultcu biyopolitika çerçevesinde sınırlarda nasıl yönettiklerini anlamaktır. Araştırmanın dönemi Ocak-Aralık 2020 arasıdır. Göçmenlere yönelik sınır politikaları uygulamaları ve coğrafi olarak adil bölgesel dağılım nedeniyle dört Avrupa ülkesi seçilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, dezavantajlı gruplar için kriz durumlarında alınan kararların yeniden gözden geçirilebileceği söylenebilir. Bu nedenle, sınırların yarı geçirgenliği kriz anlarında daha da netleşebilir. Bu tür durumlar, belirli zamanlarda yarı geçirgen olan sınırları daraltan veya esneten bir niteliğe sahiptir. Tüm kısıtlamalara rağmen, verimli bedenler için sınırlar daha geçirgen olabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• AB
• COVID-19
• Sınır Politikaları
• Biyopolitika
• Göç

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