"Refugees" or "Economic Migrants": An Obsolete Binary Categorisation for the Contemporary World

Abstract

Nowadays, more than ever, our world is developing at a fast pace, and its challenges and the priorities linked to these challenges are evolving as well. This dissertation examines the binary categorisation of 'refugees' and 'economic migrants' that is grounded on definitions and perceptions date back to the 20th century. Drawing on the case study analysis of the Nigeria situation, this dissertation aims at opening the floor to a new perspective over migration flows, highlighting the importance of developing policies and norms concerning individuals' security threats. By examining the Human Security Theory and Johan Galtung's concept of structural violence, this dissertation attempts to add a layer of analysis to the study of migration drivers. Moreover, it argues that the employment of systems of 'economic migrants' returns, emphasised by the contemporary context of securitisation of migration, is dangerous for those who are fleeing insecurity conditions not mentioned in the refugee definition.