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

Yıl 2022, Sayı: 26, 380 - 393, 28.11.2022

Ece Çim Yasin Özbey

https://doi.org/10.56074/msgsusbd.1172226

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

Kaynakça

• Abadan-Unat, N. (2002). Bitmeyen Göç Konuk İşçilikten Ulus-Ötesi Yurttaşlığa. İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi Yayınları.
• Agamben, G. (2020). “Öğrencilere Ağıt.” Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://uni- versus.org/2020/05/23/agamben-koronavirus-ogrencilere-agit/ Arminjon, M., Marion-Veyron, R., & Ch, M. A. (2021). Coronavirus biopolitics: the paradox of France’s Foucauldian heritage. 43, 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40656-020-00359-2
• Balibar, E. (2010). At the borders of citizenship: A democracy in translation? European Journal of Social Theory, 13(3), 315–322. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368431010371751
• Boccagni, P., & Lagomarsino, F. (2011). Migration and the Global Crisis: New Prospects for Return? The Case of Ecuadorians in Europe. Bulletin of Latin American Research, 30(3), 282–297. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1470-9856.2010.00494.x
• Campbell, T. (2006). “Bios,” Immunity, Life: The Thought of Roberto Esposito. Diacritics, 36(2), 2–22. Retrieved from https://about.jstor.org/terms
• Collier, S. J. (2009). Topologies of Power Foucault’s Analysis of Political Government beyond “Governmentality.” Theory, Culture & Society, 26(6), 78–108. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263276409347694
• Creţan, R., & Light, D. (2020). COVID-19 in Romania: transnational labour, geopolitics, and the Roma ‘outsiders.’ Eurasian Geography and Economics, 00(00), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15387216.2020.1780929
• Davitti, D. (2018). Biopolitical Borders and the State of Exception in the European Migration “Crisis.” The European Journal of International Law, 29(4), 1173–1196. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejil/chy065
• DW. (2021). Germany′s new labor immigration law explained | Business | Economy and finance news from a German perspective | DW | 01.03.2020. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-new-labor-immigration-law-explained/a-52575915
• Evans, B. (2010). Terror in all Eventuality. Theory & Event, Johns Hopkins University Press, 13(3). Retrieved from https://muse.jhu.edu/article/396504
• Foucault, M. (2002). Toplumu Savunmak Gerekir. İstanbul: Yapı Kredi Yayınları.
• Foucault, M. (2007). Security, Territory, Population: Lectures at the Collège de France, 1977-78. Foucault, M. (2011). Entelektüelin Siyasi İşlevi (Üçüncü Bas). İstanbul: Ayrıntı Yayınları.
• Foucault, M. (2015). Biyopolitikanın Doğuşu: Collège de France Dersleri (1978-79). İstanbul: İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi.
• Gökalp Aras, N. E. (2014). Biyopolitik Bir Nüfus Politikası Olarak Avrupa Birliği’nin Düzensiz Göç Rejimi ve Sınırlarda Ölüm Siyaseti. Nüfusbilim Dergisi/Turkish Journal of Population Studies, 36, 67–102.
• Güler Sevli, S. (2020). Koronavirüs ve Biyopolitika Tartışmaları: Agamben ve Foucault. MSGÜ Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 2(22), 315–341.
• IOM. (n.d.). Data | Migration data portal. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.migrationdataportal.org/data?i=stock_abs_&t=2020
• Italy’s new tourism ministry to restart sector left reeling by covid-1. (2021, March 3). Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/italys-new-tourism-ministry-to-rebuild-sector-left- reeling-by-covid-19.html
• Jaeger, H. M. (2010). UN reform, biopolitics, and global governmentality. International Theory, 2(1), 50–86. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1752971909990182
• Kartal, O. (2016). Foucault’dan Günümüze Biyopolitikanın İzdüşümleri (Vol. 2). Ankara: Nota Bene Yayınları.
• Kloet, J. de, Lin, J., & Chow, Y. F. (2020). ‘We are doing better’: Biopolitical nationalism and the COVID-19 virus in East Asia. European Journal of Cultural Studies, Vol. 23, pp. 635–640. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367549420928092
• Koca, B. T. (2020). Bordering processes through the use of technology: the Turkish case. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 0(0), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2020.1796272
• Koyuncu, E. (2016). Foucault’nun siyaset felsefesinde biyopolitikanın doğuşu. Onur Kartal (Der.), Biyopolitika, 2, 21-61.
• Lee, K., Worsnop, C. Z., Grépin, K. A., & Kamradt-Scott, A. (2020). Global coordination on cross-border travel and trade measures crucial to COVID-19 response. Lancet (London, England), 395(10237), 1593. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31032-1
• Legg, S. (2005). Foucault’s population geographies: classifications, biopolitics and governmental spaces. Population, Space and Place, 11(3), 137–156. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.357
• Lemke, T. (2010). Economy and Society “The birth of bio-politics”: Michel Foucault’s lecture at the Collège de France on neo-liberal governmentality. https://doi.org/10.1080/03085140120042271
• Martin, P. L. (2002, May 1). UC Berkeley Comparative Immigration and Integration Program Title Germany: Managing Migration in the 21st Century Publication Date.
• Nesheim, C. H. (2020, May 1). Greece to “Jump-Start” Golden Visa Program, Allow Investors to Apply by Proxy - Investment Migration Insider. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from Investment Migration Insider website: https://www.imidaily.com/europe/greece-to-jump-start-golden-visa-program-allow-investors-to-apply- by-proxy/
• Orlewska, K., & Klusek, J. (2020). COVID-19 in Poland: potential associations with epidemiology, population and healthcare quality. Archives of Medical Science, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.5114/aoms.2020.98236
• Pinkerton, P. (2019). Governing Potential: Biopolitical Incorporation and the German “Open-Door” Refugee and Migration Policy. International Political Sociology, 13, 128–144. https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/oly033
• Rijpma, J., & Vermeulen, M. (2015). EUROSUR: saving lives or building borders? European Security, 24(3), 454– 472. https://doi.org/10.1080/09662839.2015.1028190
• Schengenvisainfo News. (2020a). Poland Expects Influx From Belarus Amid Ongoing Protests - SchengenVisaInfo.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/poland-expects-influx-from-belarus-amid-ongoing-protests/
• Schengenvisainfo News. (2020b, April 10). No Criminal Charges for Holders of Expiring Schengen Visas in Germany Until June 30 - SchengenVisaInfo.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/no-criminal-charges-for-holders-of-expiring-schengen-visas-in- germany-until-june-30/
• Schengenvisainfo News. (2020c, May 5). Polish Consulates in Ukraine to Issue Work Visas From May 4 - SchengenVisaInfo.com. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/polish-consulates-in-ukraine-to-issue-work-visas-from-may-4/
• Schwenken, H., & Russ-sattar, S. (2014). New Border and Citizenship Politics. New Border and Citizenship Politics, (January). https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137326638
• Sirkeci, I., & Yüceşahin, M. (2020). Coronavirus and migration: Analysis of human mobility and the spread of covid-19. Migration Letters, 17(2), 379–398. https://doi.org/10.33182/ml.v17i2.935
• Skordas, A. (2020, May 5). The Twenty-Day Greek-Turkish Border Crisis and Beyond: Geopolitics of Migration and Asylum Law (Part I) – EU Immigration and Asylum Law and Policy. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from Eumigrationlaw website: https://eumigrationlawblog.eu/the-twenty-day-greek-turkish-border-crisis-and- beyond-geopolitics-of-migration-and-asylum-law-part-i/
• Stamouli, N. (2020, May 30). Greece prepares for a long hot summer – POLITICO. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from Politico website: https://www.politico.eu/article/greece-prepares-for-a-long-hot-summer-tourism- coronavirus-pandemic-economy/
• Swiss Info. (2020, February 25). Coronavirus: Ticino and its cross-border workers from Italy - SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covis-19_coronavirus--how-to-deal- with-cross-border-workers-from-italy/45578368
• The Federal Government. (2021). Germany-Guidebook: 7 Tips preparing you for your journey to Germany. Retrieved from https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/visa/quick-
• The Local Switzerland. (2020, May 4). Three border crossings between Switzerland and Italy re-open. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.thelocal.ch/20200504/three-border-crossings-between- switzerland-and-italy-re-open/
• Van Der Ploeg, I. (1999). The illegal body: “Eurodac” and the politics of biometric identification. Ethics and Information Technology, 1(4), 295–302. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010064613240
• WHO. (2021a). Germany: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard | WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. Retrieved March 5, 2021, from https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/de
• WHO. (2021b). Greece: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard | WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID- 19) Dashboard. Retrieved March 5, 2021, from https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/gr
• WHO. (2021c). Italy: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard | WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard. Retrieved March 5, 2021, from https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/it
• WHO. (2021d). Poland: WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard | WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID- 19) Dashboard. Retrieved March 5, 2021, from https://covid19.who.int/region/euro/country/pl
• WHO. (2021e). Timeline of ECDC’s reponse to COVID-19. Retrieved March 5, 2021, from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/timeline-ecdc-response
• Zizek, S. (2020). Gözetlemek Ve Cezalandırmak Mı? Evet, Lütfen! Retrieved March 4, 2021, from https://terrabayt.com/dusunce/gozetlemek-ve-cezalandirmak-mi-evet-lutfen/