The Impact of Migration on International Relations: Power Relations, Security, and Migration Diplomacy Reexamined

Acknowledging the interconnectedness and influence of migration within international relations is an ongoing journey that requires further exploration and scrutiny. This research note aims to unravel the complex interlinkage between migration and international relations. It starts with an overview of how the interplay between migration and international relations has changed over time. An exploration of the connections and impact of migration on power relations, security, and diplomacy follows it. We then conclude with the example of Turkey, demonstrating how migration has impacted all three components of international politics, particularly diplomacy. The case underlines how migration can be used in turn as a coercive and cooperative diplomatic tool, changing international relations.

We argue that integrating IR perspectives into migration studies can help provide a better ground for systematic comparative research, the generalization of conceptions, theory building and the consideration of international political and economic structures in the analysis of migration. Yet, there is a need to push the boundaries and question established assumptions in international relations, particularly those framing migration solely as a security threat and adhering to a state-centric perspective. Additionally, to foster a more comprehensive understanding, migration scholarship in IR should strive to transcend the limitations of a Eurocentric perspective.

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