This article analyses the search and rescue (SAR) activities carried out by three NGOs (MOAS, MSF and Sea-Watch) in the Central Mediterranean, and asks whether and in how far nongovernmental SAR contributes to the repoliticization of the EU maritime border. The article first introduces the concept of depoliticization/repoliticization, as well as that of humanitarianization. Two sections summarize the development of the SAR regime and the governmentalization of international waters in the Strait of Sicily from the Cap Anamur case to 2016, and from late 2016 to recent days. Against this backdrop, the article analyses the different political positions taken by MOAS, MSF and Sea-Watch, their operational activities, as well as their cooperation and relations with the other actors involved in SAR. The three NGOs react differently to the contradictions that are typical of humanitarian non-state action. MOAS keeps a neutral political profile, whereas MSF and Sea-Watch regard their SAR activities as part of a political, not only humanitarian commitment. While the convergence of delocalized state sovereignty and humanitarian reason leaves hardly any room for manoeuvre, MSF and Sea-Watch try to question and contrast governmental policies and practices, as well as to turn international waters into a political stage from which they can make their voice heard and on which they can play the watchdog role.

By reflecting on both the exclusionary and the inclusionary role of humanitarian migration and border management in the Central Mediterranean, this paper explores the relationship of humanitarianism with the delocalization of the EU border and with human rights. First, the paper analyses the role of human rights in the institutional humanitarian discourse about migration and border management at the Mediterranean EU border. The paper then analyses the Italian operation Mare Nostrum and, more generally, Italian humanitarianized border management in the Central Mediterranean. In doing this, it shows that humanitarianism contributes to the discursive legitimation and spatial delocalization of exclusionary policies and practices. Moreover, humanitarianism contributes to a symbolically and legally subordinate inclusion of migrants in the European space. While such humanitarian inclusion can be more inclusive than what human rights would require, it is posited as an act of grace rather than an enhancement of human rights. In both its exclusionary and inclusionary dimension, humanitarianism transcends and expands territorial boundaries by outsourcing responsibilities and enhancing delocalized border management. and preventing people from attempting the sea-crossing (e.g. through patrolling in international waters and police cooperation with North African countries). However, the "humanitarian reason" also resulted in increased efforts either to rescue people at sea, close to Libyan waters and sometimes even in Libyan waters, and bring them to Italy, or to open limited humanitarian corridors providing safe passage to selected groups of vulnerable persons. The aim of this paper is to reflect on both the exclusionary and the inclusionary role of humanitarianism, and on how processes of humanitarian exclusion/inclusion interact with the delocalization of the EU border, as well as with human rights.Research on the exclusionary power of humanitarianism in general (Aradau ), as well as of politics of pity (Aradau 2004) and care (Agier 2011; Williams 2015) in particular, is increasing. This body of work shows that humanitarian logics are not incompatible with-and are often instrumental to-restrictive migration policies and migration management practices, which exclude people from territories and/or rights (often resulting in violent or even unlawful and inhuman outcomes).On the contrary, the inclusionary power of humanitarianized migration and border management remains under-researched. A notable exception is the work of Fassin (2005) and Ticktin (2005, 2006), analysing the effects of the illness clause introduced in French immigration law in 1998. This measure allowed authorities to grant residency status for humanitarian reasons to undocumented foreign residents affected by life-threatening pathologies. Thus, while the main doors of labour migration and asylum in France were closed by increasingly restrictive laws and administrative practices, a small window could still be opened by compassion. This shows a particular attitud...

This paper sheds light on the role of non-governmental/civil society organisations, as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in the externalisation of migration management in Tunisia and Egypt. These organisations are involved in migration-related activities, which, from the externalisation perspective, should prevent people from attempting the sea-crossing to Europe, thus immobilising them in North Africa. The paper is an ethnographic border regime analysis drawing on extensive fieldwork. It shows that European Union-externalisation is not a univocal and smooth process. Instead, externalisation is entangled in a complex network of actors and dynamics. Measures meant to support externalisation may produce effects contrary to those envisaged, whereas practices accomplishing externalisation goals may be in fact the result of internalisation. By analysing the various actors in their diverse practices and in their-sometimes conflictual-relationships, the paper also tries to minimise state-centrism and Euro-centrism in the study of externalisation.

C omment les frontières du pouvoir territorial-c'est-à-dire les frontières des Etats et d'autres entités politiques territoriales, comme l'espace Schengen et l'Union européenne-opèrent et se manifestent-elles dans le champ de la gestion de l'immigration ? Telles sont les questions auxquelles nous tenterons de répondre dans cet article 1 .

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Paolo Cuttitta est chercheur à l'Université libre (VU) d'Amsterdam. Il a publié de nombreux articles et ouvrages sur les politiques migratoires et les contrôles des frontières, parmi lesquels les ouvrages : Lo spettacolo del confine. Lampedusa tra produzione e messa in scena della frontiera,

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