Storozuk, Jordan2018-09-252018-09-252018http://hdl.handle.net/10393/38186https://doi.org/10.20381/ruor-22440In 2015, the southern border of Europe was seized by a migration crisis. Despite the urgency, European leaders were unable to enforce common border and asylum policies. In the absence of any solidarity, German Chancellor Angela Merkel unilaterally opened German (and European) borders to an unlimited number of Syrian refugees, confidently declaring ‘we can manage this’. I aim to explore how Merkel’s response to the refugee crisis has impacted the course of European integration. Using a constructivist framework, this paper connects recent disruptions in Europe – the wave of asylum-seekers, lack of policy coordination, and rise of nationalism – with the increasingly contentious course of European integration, notably exploring the competing visions of liberal and illiberal Europe. Employing document analysis, I use a variety of sources and perspectives, such as speeches, policy documents, and media articles. The paper begins with a brief context on the state of European integration, as well as the migration crisis itself. I argue that Merkel’s response impacted far more than simple policy cohesiveness but sparked a debate about Europe itself. Part One analyzes the competing visions for European common migration policy. In the first chapter, I observe the failures of the Common European Asylum System and the resulting loss of legitimacy for the European Union to manage multinational crises. Next, I examine how divided national responses challenge the Schengen Area and continental policy cohesion. Part Two explores the deeper impact of Merkel’s response on the identity, values and vision of Europe itself. The third chapter explains how competing visions of Europe are informed by worldview. The final chapter follows the rise of illiberalism in member states, culminating in the growing rejection of a liberal worldview. Merkel’s liberal response and the subsequent illiberal backlash demonstrates a growing tension between clashing visions of Europe: as irreconcilable worldviews inform the policies and values, the very future of Europe as we know it is threatened. The course of European integration, after all, is what states make of it.en