AUTHOR=Klasche Benjamin 

TITLE=The role of ideations in de-problematizing migration crises (and other wicked problems)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Political Science

VOLUME=Volume 5 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/political-science/articles/10.3389/fpos.2023.1134457

DOI=10.3389/fpos.2023.1134457

ISSN=2673-3145

ABSTRACT=This article examines the role of ideations in the de-problematization process of the governance of ‘migration crises’. Ideations, for example, in the form of frames often simplify social reality and do not allow us to understand the nature of a problem policy-makers are dealing with. To show this, I use the example of the ‘European Migrant Crisis’, to illustrate that it is, in fact, a wicked problem. The ‘wicked problem’ concept describes a complex and contingent problem and, in essence, a set of ‘un-owned’ processes. It further dissolves local and global distinctions and forces to connect micro and macro processes at all times. In this article, I show that this ‘migration crisis’ (and also many others) consists of much more than just a humanitarian or security crisis but is also constituted by geopolitical crises and crises of political institutions. A relational approach seems most pertinent to be able to grasp all these aspects and helps us to stop de-problematizing it and instead problematize it adequately. It also advocates for the circumvention of ideations as they are a main source for the de-problematization of wicked problems.