Extra-European return diplomacy: A conceptual and empirical investigation

This working paper offers a conceptual and empirical investigation of Intergovernmental Return Frameworks as a central instrument of extra-European return diplomacy.

Conceptually, it advances a novel analytical framework that distinguishes between the regulatory and organizational properties of return diplomacy. Empiricially, the working paper zooms into the organizational properties of return diplomacy based on expert interviews in six FAiR focus countries: Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, as well as Georgia and Nigeria. Case studies cover four country pairs: EU-Georgia, Poland-Ukraine, EU-Nigeria, and Switzerland-Nigeria.

The analysis suggests that intra-governmental governance structures significantly shape inter- governmental negotiation outcomes. Ultimately, effective return diplomacy depends on the quality of the relationship between the negotiation partners.