Book Review: Transnational Mobility and Externalization of EU Borders: Social Work,Migration Management,and Resistance

Transnational Mobility and Externalization of EU Borders: Social Work, Migration Management, and Resistance, edited by Petra Daňková, Robel Afeworki Abay, Nikos Xypolytas, and Tanja Kleibl, examines the multifaceted impacts of the European Union's externalization of migration governance. This book comprises 13 chapters divided into four thematic parts, offering theoretical frameworks, empirical insights, and practical perspectives on social work and migration management.

Part I, Theoretical Engagements and Historical Contexts, sets the stage for understanding the ideological and historical underpinnings of EU migration regimes. In Chapter 1, The Role of Social Work in Context of Displacement and Forced Migration: A Critical Analysis, Norbert Frieters-Reermann critically evaluates the paradoxes of social work practices in forced migration settings. He highlights how social workers often face the challenge of balancing humanitarian goals with systemic constraints that perpetuate exclusion. This chapter calls for greater reflexivity to address the structural inequities underlying displacement. Paul Stubbs continues the discussion in Chapter 2, Socialist Yugoslavia and Circuits of Decolonial Affinity: Social Policy, Migration, and the Non-Aligned Movement. Stubbs examines the migration policies of socialist Yugoslavia, contrasting its solidarity-driven approach with the EU's securitized frameworks. By situating migration governance within historical solidarities, Stubbs sheds light on the ideological shifts that have prioritized control over cooperation. In Chapter 3, Depoliticizing Refugees: How a Western World's Favorite Intellectual and Political Game Takes Place and Its Alternatives, Nikos Xypolytas and Michalis Psimitis critique the depoliticization of refugees. They argue that viewing refugees as passive victims obscures their agency and the systemic factors driving displacement, calling for a repoliticization of migration discourse.

Part II, Entanglements of Social Work and Externalization of EU Migration Regimes, explores the operational realities of social work in the context of externalized migration policies. Petra Daňková, in Chapter 5, Working Categories: Categorization Dilemmas at the Intersection of Social Work and Mobility in Nigeria, highlights the ethical and practical challenges faced by social workers navigating EU-imposed bureaucratic frameworks. Daňková underscores the tensions between rigid categorization systems and the nuanced realities of migrants’ lives, emphasizing the need for a more context-sensitive approach. Viola Castellano's Chapter 6, Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration in The Gambia: Aid Workers and Returnees as Implementers and Contesters of Humanitarian Borderwork, examines the complexities of reintegration programs funded by the EU. Castellano critiques these programs, arguing that they often serve as tools of migration control rather than genuine humanitarian efforts. This chapter illuminates the moral conflicts faced by aid workers and social workers tasked with implementing such initiatives.

In Part III, COVID-19, Migration Management, and Social Work, the book addresses the transformative effects of the pandemic on migration governance and social work practices. Roberta T. Di Rosa, in Chapter 8, The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Migrants’ Integration Paths in Italy, illustrates how mobility restrictions disrupted integration processes, exacerbating vulnerabilities among migrants. Di Rosa's analysis underscores the resilience and adaptability of social workers who implement creative solutions despite significant barriers. Alexandra Kattein, in Chapter 9, Social Work in a Berlin Shelter for Mobile People during the Outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Crisis for Professionalism?, provides an intimate account of how social workers in Berlin adapted to heightened demands during the pandemic. Kattein highlights the ethical dilemmas faced by professionals as they sought to balance their responsibilities to vulnerable populations with resource limitations. Meanwhile, Guillermo Yrizar Barbosa, in Chapter 10, Overview on the Human Rights of International Migrants in Mexico during the “Fourth Transformation,” broadens the discussion to the Latin American context. Barbosa examines how the pandemic intensified existing human rights violations in transit regions, emphasizing the role of social work in mitigating these impacts.

Part IV, Resistance and Collective Action, focuses on acts of resistance by migrants and social workers in the face of restrictive migration policies. Jessica Washburn, in Chapter 11, A Critical View of Humanitarian Aid in the Context of the Refugee Camp on Lesvos and Possibilities of a Liberating Practice, critiques the dependency fostered by traditional humanitarian aid frameworks. Washburn argues for practices that prioritize empowerment and liberation over dependency. In Chapter 12, Human Rights Overboard: Shrinking Spaces for Civil Sea Rescue in the Central Mediterranean Sea, Theresa Becker examines the criminalization of humanitarian sea rescue operations. Becker critiques how EU policies have restricted the operational capacity of civil organizations, endangering migrants and undermining international solidarity. Finally, Eva Maria Greber's Chapter 13, Exploration of Refugee Resistance in the Light of Asymmetrical Power Relations: Examples of Refugee Resistance in Europe, showcases acts of refugee resistance. Greber highlights how migrants assert agency against oppressive systems, offering case studies that underscore the transformative potential of grassroots advocacy.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its interdisciplinary approach, which integrates perspectives from social work, sociology, and political science. The inclusion of case studies from diverse geographical contexts, spanning Europe, Africa, and Latin America, enhances the book's relevance to a global audience. The focus on social work provides a unique lens for understanding the ethical dilemmas faced by professionals operating within these systems.

Overall, Transnational Mobility and Externalization of EU Borders: Social Work, Migration Management, and Resistance, is an essential contribution to migration studies and social work. Through a critical examination of the intersections between policy, practice, and resistance, this volume challenges readers to rethink the ethical and political dimensions of externalization. With insightful contributions from both the editors and chapter authors, this book is indispensable for academics, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to understand and address the systemic inequities embedded in global migration governance.