One step forward, two steps back: the ambiguous role of Germany in EU asylum policies

Zaun, Natascha ORCID: 0000-0002-0436-6275 and Ripoll Servent, Ariadna (2021) One step forward, two steps back: the ambiguous role of Germany in EU asylum policies. Journal of European Integration, 43 (2). 157 - 174. ISSN 0703-6337

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Abstract

Drawing on the Core State Power framework, this paper assesses Germany’s ambiguous role in EU asylum policies from signing of the Maastricht Treaty to the present. It demonstrates that Germany has neither taken on the role of a leader nor pursued any consistent course regarding the institutional setup or content of EU asylum policies. However, this does not mean that Germany does not have any preferences in this area. Overall, German governments have supported whatever policy would decrease the country’s share of asylum-seekers vis-à-vis other European countries, in order to achieve two core goals: first, to avoid the material costs resulting from high numbers of asylum-seekers, a preference that is common among state elites; and second, to avoid audience/electoral costs resulting from the comparatively restrictive preferences of the public, especially when these are mobilised by right-wing populist parties.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/geui20/current
Additional Information:	© 2021 the Authors
Divisions:	European Institute
Subjects:	J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration J Political Science > JZ International relations
Date Deposited:	25 Jan 2021 15:15
Last Modified:	12 Dec 2024 02:26
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/108548

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