Policy Frames on Spousal Migration in Germany

Laura Block asks how liberal democracies manage to restrict migration in spite of liberal constraints. She analyses the political debates surrounding spousal migration policies from 2005–2010 in Germany and reveals government strategies that restrict spousal migration while staying within the discursive realm of individual rights. By circumscribing and scrutinising both the membership status necessary to access the right to family protection and the family ties in question, restricting spousal migration is legitimised. Contents A theoretical framework for the analysis of spousal migration policiesEmpirical and legal realities of spousal migration to GermanyThe European dimension of family migration policiesPolitical and institutional frames on spousal migrationThe “other” side: transnational couples’ and migrant advocates’ perspectives Target Groups Researchers and students dealing with migration studies, policy and discourse analysis The Author Laura Block works as a project coordinator for Arbeitsgemeinschaft der deutschen Familienorganisationen (AGF), Berlin.