Despite the absence of flagrant breaches of international law at its eastern border, the paper contends that Finland is treading a path of hyperlegality, creating an environment where legal norms are shrouded in doubt. Drawing on the concept of hyperlegality and obfuscation, as outlined by Ghezelbash, and building on work by Hussain, the presentation argues that Finland is delegitimizing international law under the guise of compliance, potentially paving the way for future violations. The talk explores the government’s use of human rights language while simultaneously undermining the very legal norms it purports to uphold, and responds to arguments that advocate for the law to provide states with tools for guaranteeing security. The discourse surrounding the failure of the Refugee Convention and human rights instruments to address border security concerns contributes to a narrative wherein violating international law becomes conceivable, and violence and preventable death become more likely.

Room at ZiF: ‘Corner’

Link to the lecture: https://uni-bielefeld.zoom-x.de/j/66346488673?pwd=bWs0ZXJ4RDltM1MxNVowWjJkRUNXQT09

Meeting-ID: 663 4648 8673 / Passcode: 508936