An analysis of securitization of the link between terrorism and migration in France (2002-2022)

Abstract

“Immigration is linked to jihadism, and those claiming otherwise are taking people for fools”, was arguing in April 2021 Mr. Zemmour, one of the candidates for the last French presidential election. Since the beginning of the century, a link between the securitization of terrorism and migration can be increasingly noticed in France. This joint securitization appears to be even more frequent since the terrorist attacks of 2015. Indeed, France tends to securitize migration as directly linked to terrorism, particularly in a post-terrorist attack context. Whereas the threat posed by terrorism is undeniable, the link of migration to terrorism and even the securitization of migration itself can be challenged. One could even argue that addressing the threat of terrorism by acting on migration is not the most relevant approach. However, this approach has been increasingly chosen by France over the past decades. Moreover, extremist parties and certain media push nowadays even more towards this approach. Therefore, this research will try to answer the following question: How does the securitization of the link between terrorism and migration affect counterterrorism policy and implementation? To answer the question, the dissertation will first explain the link between migration and terrorism articulated in France by securitizing actors, and try to deconstruct this link. Then, the dissertation will focus on the different effects of this link on counterterrorism. On the one hand, securitizing jointly migration and terrorism allows reassuring the population, by tangibly addressing migration in the context of counterterrorism. On the other hand, this link contributes to the rise of extremism and constitutes a counter-productive form of counterterrorism. The objective of this research is to underline the negative effects of a joint securitization of migration and terrorism on countering terrorism. Indeed, by considering migration as a security threat linked to terrorism, France addresses migration instead of other more relevant issues to fight terrorism. Research and data have shown that the link between migration and terrorism is very thin. Therefore, both issues should be securitized – or not – separately. By doing so, terrorism as a security threat could be addressed more efficiently.