ABSTRACT
This chapter visualizes the Mediterranean Basin like a vast blue plaque. The island of Lampedusa is a gem of the Mediterranean, its economy relies heavily on tourism. Lampedusa is just one, yet a critical, point around which Europe is defined. Migrants are often located on radars around the mediterranean sea and then transferred to the island. In many ways, the multifaceted character of this island makes it a central site to investigate the implementation of European migration control and the effects that it has on the process of African migrations. Interestingly enough, in an interview with Roman Herzog, Siragusa admits that there are no landings in Lampedusa since migrants' boats are intercepted sixty miles out in the sea. The author concurs with Didier Bigo in contesting the unproblematic overlapping of the two terms in canonical International Relations discourse where the frontiers are the state frontiers and the state is a political entity sealed by borders.
