The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)

Immigration has become an increasingly contentious political and social issue in Europe over the past decade. The growing influx of asylum seekers has been driven by deteriorating security conditions, armed conflicts, and political and economic instability in various regions, alongside the comparat...

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Main Authors: Vasil Pavlov, Siddharth Kanojia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute for Research and European Studies 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.e-jlia.com/index.php/jlia/article/view/1781
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author Vasil Pavlov
Siddharth Kanojia
author_facet Vasil Pavlov
Siddharth Kanojia
author_sort Vasil Pavlov
collection DOAJ
description Immigration has become an increasingly contentious political and social issue in Europe over the past decade. The growing influx of asylum seekers has been driven by deteriorating security conditions, armed conflicts, and political and economic instability in various regions, alongside the comparatively higher living standards in Europe. As a global hegemon, the United States has indirectly shaped migration patterns in peripheral regions such as the Balkans. This paper examines how President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration discourse during his first term (2017–2021) coincided with an approximately 45% decrease in asylum applications from the Balkans. Drawing on official statistics and employing Critical Discourse Analysis, the study explores how US rhetoric influenced regional policy emulation. The findings underscore the transnational impact of populist discourse and call for a critical reassessment of migration governance in key transit regions.
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spelling doaj-art-ea250f9477c2463899c8ba7f9471a0f72025-08-20T03:39:21ZengInstitute for Research and European StudiesJournal of Liberty and International Affairs1857-97602025-07-01111The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)Vasil Pavlov0Siddharth Kanojia 1University of National and World Economy O. P. Jindal Global University Immigration has become an increasingly contentious political and social issue in Europe over the past decade. The growing influx of asylum seekers has been driven by deteriorating security conditions, armed conflicts, and political and economic instability in various regions, alongside the comparatively higher living standards in Europe. As a global hegemon, the United States has indirectly shaped migration patterns in peripheral regions such as the Balkans. This paper examines how President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration discourse during his first term (2017–2021) coincided with an approximately 45% decrease in asylum applications from the Balkans. Drawing on official statistics and employing Critical Discourse Analysis, the study explores how US rhetoric influenced regional policy emulation. The findings underscore the transnational impact of populist discourse and call for a critical reassessment of migration governance in key transit regions. https://www.e-jlia.com/index.php/jlia/article/view/1781ImmigrationAsylumBalkansTrumpSecuritizationMigration Governance
spellingShingle Vasil Pavlov
Siddharth Kanojia
The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)
Journal of Liberty and International Affairs
Immigration
Asylum
Balkans
Trump
Securitization
Migration Governance
title The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)
title_full The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)
title_fullStr The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)
title_short The Impact of Trump’s Anti-Immigration Discourse on Asylum Applications in the Balkans (2017–2021)
title_sort impact of trump s anti immigration discourse on asylum applications in the balkans 2017 2021
topic Immigration
Asylum
Balkans
Trump
Securitization
Migration Governance
url https://www.e-jlia.com/index.php/jlia/article/view/1781
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