Europe faces huge dilemma

The idea of Europe itself is under threat. The civil war in Syria and Iraq, the increasing violence in Afghanistan and the chaos in African nations like Sudan, Nigeria, Yemen and Libya have created millions of refugees who are trying to escape theatres of war and conflict.

However, at the same time thousands of economic migrants are also tagging along in search of The crisis is not just economic. Smaller European nations are at risk of becoming minorities in their own countries . There are political and social effects in the shape of the anti-immigration right-wing political groups

For centuries, Europeans went across to Asia, Africa and Latin America as explorers and traders, with the Bible in hand, and grew into colonisers and exploiters, becoming richer and more powerful. The two World Wars, the Cold Wwar and the latter’s end with the end of the last century have served to reverse this flow, in a big, tragic way. A recession-hit Europe is simply not ready for what has become the worst human movement of hapless refugees.

It may be tempting to talk of the failure of the capitalist order – not that any alternative is in sight. It is also clear that the “clash of civilisations” has taken a new, dangerous, turn, with Europe’s economic woes being combined with Islamphobia in the wake of the rise of Al Qaida, the 9/11 and now the advancing Islamic State (IS).

Having contributed to, even created the mess, Europe (read America as well) is too weak and unwilling to meet the latest onslaught, not just on the people but also on the ancient civilizations of West Asia. The destruction of numerous ancient sites in Iraq and Palmyra in Syria are examples of man’s determined destruction of his own cultural heritage.

It is easy to find fault with the West or the East. But that would be idle talk amidst the worst refugee crisis since the World War 2.Over 3,00,000 people have crossed to Europe by sea so far this year and more than 2,600 have died doing so. Many of those making the voyage are refugees from the civil war in Syria, now in its fifth year.

Syria and Iraq are today what Afghanistan was through the last quarter of the last century. The plight of millions of Afghans remains unresolved, even as those of Arabs and Iranians, hit by political turmoil in their countries, add to the movement that is declared ‘illegal.’ Refugees are not welcome anywhere.

This crisis has taken a dangerous turn even as we discuss the Rohingya Muslims of Southeast Asia (Bangladesh, Myanmar) who are unwanted among the better off among the nations of that region, from Malaysia and Indonesia to Australia. The new “boat people” arriving surreptitiously, find the shores shut to them.

The crisis is displayed by a clock ticking away every second. The Refugee Project records 1,04,97,545 refugees. But these are the old figures of 2012. At the end of 2014, 59.5 million persons - the highest number on record - were forcibly displaced around the globe. This means that one in every 122 human beings today is either a refugee, internally displaced or seeking asylum, says the UN that observes the World Refugee Day on June 20 each year.

Who are refugees? The Project says: “Every day, all over the world, ordinary people must flee their homes for fear of death or persecution. Many leave without notice, taking only what they can carry. Many will never return. They cross oceans and minefields; they risk their lives and their futures. When they cross international borders they are called refugees.”

While looking at the current crisis, it is easy to blame the European, the essentially White Man, as the one who started it all through colonisation, exploitation etc. But the whole of Europe did not engage in colonisation. Germany did not, and wants the whole of Europe to meet the crisis. But smaller nations are protesting. Where to block the refugees’ tornado is the issue.

There are political and social effects in the shape of the anti-immigration right-wing political groups getting strong in different parts of Europe. After all, assimilating thousands of people from diverse ethno-religious backgrounds, all at one go, is extremely difficult. Difficulties in ensuring security checks add to the fears generated by the IS. The favourite destination of the West Asian/ North African refugees who travel by boats across the Mediterranean Sea, Greece is already experiencing its ‘tragedy,’ going virtually bankrupt. Italy is relatively better, but the whole of Europe is economically down.

The crisis is not just economic. Smaller European nations are at risk of becoming minorities in their own countries. Malta has a total population of 1,30,000. Taking even ten thousand would hurt.

In the midst of this chaos, many countries are even considering re-imposing border controls, reversing the open borders policy under the Schengen system for travel among 22 European Union countries.

Up there in central Europe, Hungary has over 20 per cent population of gypsies who have been there for centuries and remain there, discriminated. Austria has similar problems. The Balkan nations have large Turkish populations because of past Turkish conquests and do not think they can absorb more of non-Europeans. And Turkey, as gateway for youths from across the world who are seduced by the IS propaganda is part of the problem, not the solution.

In such a scenario, Europe is facing a huge dilemma. The civil war in Syria and Iraq, the increasing violence in Afghanistan and the chaos in African nations like Sudan, Nigeria, Yemen and Libya have created millions of refugees who are trying to escape theatres of war and conflict. However, at the same time thousands of economic migrants are also tagging along in search of a better life.

Indeed, the idea of Europe itself is under threat. And an election-bound America is not much of help, despite President Barrack Obama’s healthy worldview. He has taken welcome steps to end decades of confrontation with Cuba and Iran, and is being opposed at home. The nuclear deal with Iran has angered both American allies, Saudi Arabia and Israel. His successor may be less liberal.

There are no clear solutions. Obama’s war-mongering Pentagon is dubiously involved in fighting the Islamic State in Iraq, but siding with the same invading force in Syria, where it wants to end the rule of Bashar Al-Asad. Russia’s Putin is backing Asad, but is advising him to make up with the West-backed political opposition.

So, we are back to politics and geopolitics of West Asia, of which the refugee crisis is the latest off-shoot. It is the most serious, since it has generated waves of humans desperate to find safe homes for their families.

The three-year old Syrian child, drowned and washed ashore, whose image has moved the world, is unlikely to be the last victim of man’s cruelty to mankind.

By:Mahendra Ved