Examining refugee externalisation policies: A comparative study of Europe and Australia

The book is an interdisciplinary and comparative examination of refugee externalisation policies implemented by European Union and its member states, and Australia. The Australian form of externalisation policy has been closely watched by European policymakers, and continues to have considerable influence outside of its region. This book examines the influence of Australian policy on European policymaking within the context of the spread of externalisation techniques more generally. This introductory chapter sets the parameters for the chapters that follow. It defines refugee externalisation policies and provides an overview of the emergence of this particular governance technique. It describes the key externalisation methods used by governments in order to keep asylum seekers from reaching their territory. Finally, it provides a survey of the impact of externalisation in three key areas: law, human rights and justice; sovereignty, security and agency; and shifting geographies of externalisation. The chapter closes with an explanation for the structure of the book and an overview of its chapters.