The long arm of the Arab state

Tsourapas, G. (2020) The long arm of the Arab state. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 43(2), pp. 351-370. (doi: 10.1080/01419870.2019.1585558)

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Publisher's URL: https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/portal/files/57897513/2019_LongArmArabState.pdf

Abstract

Under what conditions do authoritarian states exercise control over populations abroad? The securitization of cross-border mobility has been a common theme in examining immigration policies in the Global North. The securitization of emigration and diasporas in non-democratic contexts remains neglected; this is particularly true with regard to Arab states’ extraterritorial authoritarian practices. This article argues that authoritarian states develop a range of migration policies that are driven by the contradictory pressures of economic and political imperatives or, put differently, an illiberal paradox: if a state does not expect economic gains from cross-border mobility, it is more likely to securitize its emigration policy; otherwise, it is more likely to securitize its diaspora policy. The article illustrates this trade-off via a most-similar comparison of Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco. Drawing on Arabic and non-Arabic primary and secondary sources, it sketches a novel area of research on migration and security.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Funding: This work was supported by British Academy / Leverhulme Small Grant [Grant Number SG163246].
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Tsourapas, Professor Gerasimos
Authors: Tsourapas, G.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
Journal Name:Ethnic and Racial Studies
Publisher:Routledge (Taylor & Francis)
ISSN:0141-9870
ISSN (Online):1466-4356
Published Online:26 March 2019

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