History and Politics of Free Movement within the European Union: European Borders of Justice

The right to free movement within the European Union is a highly valued privilege, but it has also been a source of political controversy. This book examines how European politicians have justified and criticized free movement from the first Commission of the EU-25 in 2004 to the Brexit referendum in 2016. It introduces a new conceptual framework for analyzing practical reasoning in political discourses and applies it to the analysis of national free movement debates contextualized in respective migration histories. The study unearths wider problems related to free movement, including the diversified and variegated approaches towards different groups of movers and the exclusive attitudes apparent in both discourses and policies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 26 November 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The right to free movement is a cherished privilege among EU citizens, yet it has also sparked significant political controversy in recent years. The debates preceding the 2016 Brexit referendum serve as a poignant illustration of this. This book delves into the justifications and critiques of free movement within the EU, spanning from the inception of the first Commission of the EU-25 in November 2004 to the Brexit referendum in June 2016. The analysis takes into account the discourses of Heads of State, Governments, and Ministers of the Interior (or Home Secretaries) from six major European states: the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Romania. In addition to these national leaders, the speeches of European Commissioners responsible for free movement matters are also considered.

The book introduces a novel conceptual framework for analyzing practical reasoning in political discourses, which is applied to the analysis of national free movement debates contextualized within their respective migration histories. Beyond the findings related to political discourses, the study uncovers broader issues surrounding free movement, such as the diverse and varied approaches towards different groups of movers and the exclusive attitudes evident in both discourses and policies.

The History and Politics of Free Movement within the European Union holds immense interest for anyone engaged in the study of national and European politics, contemporary history, migration policies, and political argumentation.

Weight: 514g
Dimension: 164 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350150546