Introducing the Research: EU Migration Politics, Italy and the ‘refugee crisis’

The introductory chapter sets out the main puzzle, the topic and the scope of the book. Accordingly, having provided some background elements, in this chapter, I identify the main issues that this book addresses, contextualising the case study within the existing literature. Moving on from this, I explain how I intend to tackle the issue at stake and describe the main concepts underpinning the research. The central part of the chapter is dedicated to the explanation of two key questions that are at the core of the study. Firstly, why the specific consideration of the Italian case, beyond the extensive consideration of the supranational level, is crucial for an EU-wide understanding of the approach to smuggling. Secondly, why a book on policy-making and practices in the time frame from 2014 to 2019 is still extremely insightful in terms of understanding current patterns of migration governance in the EU and beyond. Following this, the main theoretical and methodological contribution of the book are addressed, before concluding with a focus on some terminological issues and a brief presentation of the chapters included in the volume.