Shaping migration at the border: the entangled rationalities of border control practices

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Political Science
• Organizational Theory

Background:

• Border control is a critical state function shaping national borders.
• Understanding the operational dynamics of border agencies is essential for effective policy.
• Street-level bureaucracy significantly influences the implementation of state policies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the rationalities guiding Swiss Border Guard (SBG) practices.
• To explore how these rationalities shape the movement of non-nationals.
• To contribute to organizational theory by examining multiple, entangled rationalities.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic fieldwork within the Swiss Border Guard.
• Application of organizational theory and structuration theory.
• Integration of a street-level bureaucracy perspective.

Main Results:

• Identified four key rationalities in border control: security, humanitarian, cost-calculation, and pragmatic.
• Demonstrated how these entangled rationalities explain complex border control realities.
• Highlighted the influence of street-level bureaucrats' reasoning and actions.

Conclusions:

• Multiple, entangled rationalities are crucial for understanding organizational practices.
• The study offers a nuanced view of border control beyond simplistic security paradigms.
• Findings have broader implications for organizational theory and public administration.