The Crooked Logic of Migration Policies and Their Malthusian Roots

European perspectives on recent migration fl ows are heavily biased towards the Malthusian and evolutionist view of many classical western social thinkers. Although it may serve as a purely descriptive tool to outline the present relations between Europe and the outside world (specifi cally the Middle East and North Africa), it certainly doesnot provide any solid base for designing projects which might free human beings from further subjugation, poverty and entrenched inequality – precisely the reasons behind the recent migration crisis to the EU. We argue here that the way the EU perceives and deals with the recent fl ow of migrants (refugees and others) is based on an outdated perception that does not allow for providing valid solutions to real problems. Therefore we present the undercurrent logic behind the political designs, point out defi ciencies, and illustrate a possible new approach by discussing the EU’s migration policy and border management, as linked to the EU security and defence policy. The current migration crisis would never have emerged if not for the lack of stability in the Middle East and North Africa, which neither the EU nor UN nor NATO was ready or able to remedy. The beginning of putting together a viable EU migration policy and border regime will depend on rethinking the security policy, decision-making and capacity, and abandoning the Malthusian perception of the world is a start.