Securitization of Migration, the case of 'Refugee Crisis' in Greece.

Abstract

This thesis investigates the influx of refugees in Greece in 2015 highlighting the problem of racism that asylum seekers have to encounter once they arrive. The ‘Refugee Crisis’ has been studied by many scholars because of its urgency. This study aims to unravel the inherent racism that has been strengthened as a consequence of economic and ideological crises that facilitated the Extreme-Right party to climb the political ladder in Greece. More specifically, it focuses on the inspection of a far-right party (Golden Dawn) and how this party managed to polarize the national perception of both migrants and refugees as dangerous for the country’s identity and culture. By applying the Securitization Theory and the concept of Postcolonialism, an antithesis between the securitization process and the protection of the nation and the marginalization of the refugees according to xenophobic and prejudiced attitudes came to the surface. Based on secondary and a variety of primary sources this qualitative research offers significant results regarding migration in Greece. The consequences of xenophobia, racism, and violence against asylum seekers in the country have become part of the humanitarian issue whereas, the inability to properly address this matter has only increased the frustration among people.