Securitisation of asylum seekers: a case study of Hungary during 2015

Abstract

While the securitisation of migration has been widely discussed by prominent security scholars, the negative implications of this process for individuals seeking international protection remain limited. Using Hungary as a case study, this study presents an analysis of the entire process of securitisation of asylum seekers in that country during 2015, but goes a step further by also analysing and demonstrating the negative implications of that process in relation to asylum applicants’ right to seek international protection foreseen in international law. The main aims of this study were, firstly, to contribute to the existing academic literature on the topic; secondly, by utilising international law, to offer broader framework applicability; and thirdly, to instigate further research on the topic, including the exploration of ways to de-securitise migration in Hungary. The main finding of this study was that asylum seekers’ right to seek protection was, significantly, undermined by the Hungarian state after a successful securitisation process and the adoption of extraordinary measures to contain the influx of individuals seeking asylum in that country, in a clear violation of international law.