Autonomy of Migration?: Appropriating Mobility within Biometric Border Regimes

This book examines how migrants use mobility in the context of biometric border controls, mobilizing new analytics and empirics to investigate how migrants appropriate mobility via Schengen visa within and against biometric border regimes. It also addresses criticisms of autonomy of migration and develops it as a viable approach for border, migration, and critical security studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 230 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive volume delves into the intricate dynamics of migrants' mobility within the framework of biometric border controls, employing cutting-edge analytics and empirical evidence to shed light on the complex politics surrounding migration. By examining the interplay between the European Union's (EU) efforts to establish rigorous border controls through biometric technologies and the unwavering determination of migrants to navigate and reside within the EU, the book aims to achieve two interconnected goals. Firstly, it explores the encounters between migrants and the Visa Information System (VIS), one of the world's largest biometric databases, with a focus on mobility as a key lens through which to understand how migrants navigate the Schengen visa regime within and against this biometric border regime. Secondly, it addresses criticisms of autonomy of migration and develops it as a viable approach for border, migration, and critical security studies.

Driven by two interconnected research questions, this book seeks to unravel the concept of moments of autonomy of migration within the context of border regimes that rely on biometric technologies to control the movement of migrants. It also examines how migrants harness mobility through the Schengen visa framework, both within and against these biometric border regimes.

The significance of this book extends to scholars and researchers across a wide range of disciplines, including border studies, migration studies, critical security studies, citizenship studies, surveillance studies, political theory, critical IR theory, and international political sociology. By offering a comprehensive analysis of the complexities surrounding migrants' mobility in the era of biometric border controls, the book provides valuable insights into the broader political, social, and ethical implications of migration in the contemporary world.

In conclusion, this volume is a groundbreaking contribution to the field of border, migration, and critical security studies, offering a rich tapestry of insights and perspectives that will undoubtedly inspire and inform future research and policy debates.

Weight: 463g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367786649