African Migrants in Africa and Europe

This book juxtaposes two realities of our world. On the one hand, the extensity, intensity and velocity of the current form of globalization amplified the role of globalization in the migrations and movements of people, and consequently amplified the centrality of the migrations and movements of people in our contemporary world. On the other hand, in spite of globalization: (i) migration is a problematic phenomenon, and (ii) Africans remain ‘outsiders’ in Europe, and Africans from some African states remain ‘outsiders’ in other African states. Understanding (i) and (ii) is crucial to understanding the current plight of African migrants. Taking his cue from Alexander Wendt’s (1992) social constructivist argument that ‘anarchy is what states make of it’, Frank Abumere shows how and why the problem of identity, rather than the problem of securitization, is the fundamental problem when dealing with the problem of migration.

Frank Aragbonfoh Abumere is a philosopher and political scientist specializing in ethics, political philosophy, political theory, International Relations and African/Africana studies. He is currently a visiting assistant professor at Clark Atlanta University and a member of The Abuja School (TAS).

Introduction: The Problem of Migration is a Problem of Identity.- Chapter One: A Problematic Zeitgeist.- Chapter Two: A Tripartite Problem.- Chapter Three: Europe’s Reaction to Migration from Africa.- Chapter Four: The European Self and the African Other.- Chapter Five: How Africa Imitates Europe.- Chapter Six: Securitization and Identity: Superstructure and Substructure.- Chapter Seven: Enemies, Competitors or Friends?.- Chapter Eight: On Policy.- Conclusion : Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.