From Exclusion to Adaptation: Multi- Level Governance of Migration in Sicily under the Decreti Sicurezza : A Case Study of the Italo–Libyan Border and the SAI Reception System

Details

Supervisors

Leloup, Fabienne

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [120] en administration publique, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

enThis thesis examines the role of the Decreto Sicurezza (2018) in reshaping migration governance at the Italo–Libyan border and within Italy’s reception system. Anchored in theories of multi-level governance and policy instrumentation, it conceptualizes borders not only as territorial lines but as dynamic instruments of public action, simultaneously securitarian and humanitarian. Empirically, the study analyzes two scales of governance. At the national and supranational level, it investigates Italy–Libya cooperation and the effects of the Decreto Sicurezza on asylum rights, reception structures, and the securitization of migration. At the local level, it focuses on Sicily, particularly the municipalities of Milazzo and Catania, through documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with SAI (Sistema di Accoglienza e Integrazione) practitioners. Findings reveal three key dynamics. First, the Decreto Sicurezza fragmented migration governance by dismantling humanitarian protections and restricting services for asylum seekers. Second, local actors in Sicily developed adaptive strategies to preserve integration pathways, highlighting resilience and creativity in the face of restrictive national frameworks. Third, the coexistence of exclusionary national policies and inclusive local practices produces a fragmented governance landscape, marked by uneven access to rights and services for migrants. By tracing the interaction between national instruments and local adaptations, the thesis shows how the governance of migration in Italy oscillates between securitarian logics and humanitarian practices. It contributes to debates on European border externalization, securitization, and multi-level governance, while documenting the agency of local actors who transform policy in practice.