ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the theoretical approaches to migration in general, and to migration to the EU in particular, from a distinctive international political economy perspective. It addresses the theoretical debate relating to the capacity of the state to control international migration and the so called ‘policy gap’ between migration policies and their outcomes, also called the ‘gap hypothesis’ (Guiraudon and Lahav 2007; Boswell and Geddes 2011). It moves then to the developments leading to the creation of Fortress Europe, its definition, its evolution and its main characteristics. In the conclusion the chapter gives some insights regarding the explanations proposed for the securitisation of EU migration policy.
