The Aftermath of the Mare Nostrum Policy Quandary on Migration in Italy

Abstract

Italy is the destination for migration and Libya is the main gateway for sending migrants by sea. Political instability in Libya due to the Arab Spring became fertile ground for smugglers to send thousands of irregular migrants from mainland Africa across the Mediterranean to Europe. The number of irregular migrants who come to cause problems for Italy. Italy is a country that is quite focused on resolving irregular migrant problems, but regulations regarding migrants are still said to be unsuccessful given the growing number of migrants. Migrants who arrive are often referred to as "Marocchini" or Moroccans. This research uses the concept of norms in constructivism. Norms have standards of behavior that contain prohibitions and recommendations of action. After the cessation of Operation Mare Nostrum, Italy continued to show consistency in complying with the laws of the sea and human rights, by continuing to carry out surveillance and rescue at sea. This was reinforced by the statement of the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi who was committed to making the problem in the Mediterranean a focus of foreign policy and migration became an important political agenda.