From ‘Crimmigration’ to ‘Enemy Penology’: the Greek Case of Immigration Control

• In Event: Criminology of Mobility. Panel 6. Border crossings and border control systems

Abstract

This essay explores the function and rationale of the Greek immigration control system, starting with a brief overview of the crimmigration literature. The study then identifies key pillars utilized by the Greek state in controlling human mobility at the border. By scrutinizing the inherently exclusive nature of these immigration control mechanisms, the essay explores the role of delusions of superiority and homogeneity in shaping the modern Greek state. This foundation establishes a connection with enemy penology (Jakobs, 1985), a theory elucidating the underlying hostility toward foreigners that underlies current Greek immigration control practices. The characteristics of enemy penology are examined in the context of the Greek state's immigration control system. The essay concludes by examining the wider implications for democracy stemming from the Greek state's portrayal of immigrants as enemies and its targeting of those perceived as their allies. These practices challenge the rule of law and the very foundations of democracy, raising concerns about its erosion.

Author

• Filippos Kourakis, Panteion Univeristy