BICC investigates the linkages between migration and security and intends to generate empirical data on (in)security as a driver and consequence of voluntary and involuntary migration. 

In recent political and academic debate, discussions focusing on the so-called security–migration nexus have usually established more or less substantive threat scenarios regarding domestic and social security issues of Western recipient countries, i.e. problems arising from irregular migration, failed integration efforts, or the assumed link between international terrorism and migration.

Nonetheless, widespread social implications of different forms of forced or involuntary migration are especially prevalent in cases of South–South migration as opposed to South–North migration. For instance, only a small faction of Africa’s 16.3 million migrants plan or undertake to migrate to Northern countries. In addition, the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs), i.e. migrants that have not crossed an international border, has risen significantly over the past 30 years.

The program area integrates many projects and publications at BICC. Following a more balanced approach to analyzing the interplay of security, conflict, development and migration, BICC’s research takes into account three dimensions: 1) countries and regions of origin; 2) countries of settlement and recipient societies; 3) transnational communities and diasporas.

Against this background, BICC poses the following research questions:

• How is the nexus between migration and security? How do conflicts, inequality, environmental stress and other threats to human development work as a push-factor for migration?
• What are the repercussions of large-scale migration on recipient societies, particularly in the case of neighboring countries affected by so-called complex migration emergencies?
• What are the security needs of migrants, especially when taking into account their usually precarious living conditions?