The Evolution of Multi-Level Governance in French  Refugee Crisis Management: A Comparative Analysis  of the 2015 and 2022 Crises

In 2015 and 2022, Europe faced two major refugee crises. The first followed conflicts in the Middle East, and the second followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both these crises led France to adapt its highly centralised asylum system. This thesis examines how France responded to these crises through the lens of Multi-level Governance (MLG) and collaborative crisis management to uncover the collaboration efforts between the actors and the flexibility of the governance to deal with the crisis. It asks: To what extent have the management strategies during the 2015 refugee crisis influenced the development of the approaches during the 2022 refugee crisis, and did these adaptations lead to improved outcomes? To answer this question, the research uses a qualitative research method through document analysis coupled with process tracing and Most Similar Research Design. The findings reveal a significant evolution in France's MLG approach between the two crises. Indeed, the 2015 crisis,...Show moreIn 2015 and 2022, Europe faced two major refugee crises. The first followed conflicts in the Middle East, and the second followed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both these crises led France to adapt its highly centralised asylum system. This thesis examines how France responded to these crises through the lens of Multi-level Governance (MLG) and collaborative crisis management to uncover the collaboration efforts between the actors and the flexibility of the governance to deal with the crisis. It asks: To what extent have the management strategies during the 2015 refugee crisis influenced the development of the approaches during the 2022 refugee crisis, and did these adaptations lead to improved outcomes? To answer this question, the research uses a qualitative research method through document analysis coupled with process tracing and Most Similar Research Design. The findings reveal a significant evolution in France's MLG approach between the two crises. Indeed, the 2015 crisis, while exposing shortcomings in coordination and resource allocation, led to policy changes that fostered greater collaboration and flexibility in the following years. These changes were evident in the 2022 response which proved to be more efficient, particularly in the reception and integration of Ukrainian refugees. Nevertheless, challenges are still observed in 2022, especially in ensuring equitable treatment for all refugees.Show less

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The Evolution of Multi-Level Governance in French Refugee Crisis Management: A Comparative Analysis of the 2015 and 2022 Crises