Belarus-Poland Migration Crisis and Supra-National Political Concerns of the Extended Actors

Abstract

This study seeks to examine the sociological, political, and humanitarian dimensions of the Belarus-Poland migration crisis and aims to discuss the differences between migration diplomacy and state-organized-engineered migration within the framework of the instrumentalization and weaponization of migrants. Statements made by EU authorities about the Belarus-Poland migration problem, sanctions, and measures implemented are investigated to evaluate the EU’s approach. Furthermore, in order to comprehend Belarus’ perspective, Lukashenko’s statements and press coverage of the incident are scrutinized. Theoretically, while following a descriptive analysis method, the article considers how Belarus-Poland border issue has given rise to a great deal of media interest due to Belarus’s balance and interest-oriented policies oscillating between the former Soviet world and the West and argues how Russia brought a global dimension to the issue as a result of its historical political pursuits. Finally, it concludes that the migration crisis between Belarus and Poland is not a simple crisis that concerns two countries, if anything, it is a reflection and precursor of multi-actor global politics serving different purposes in the region.