© AFP 2016/ ARIS MESSINIS
Humanity and migration are two sides of the same coin, enjoying a symbiotic relationship that will never be broken no matter how much people and politicians may try.
Indeed, rather than the alien phenomenon it is currently in vogue to characterize it, immigration is as natural as the sun rising and setting every day. In a previous
article I explored how mass migration was a key factor in the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, doing so in relation to the refugee crisis that began lapping up on Europe's southern shores in 2015, an ongoing crisis directly related to the chaos that has engulfed the Middle East and North Africa.
This refugee crisis is not the same phenomenon as immigration; however both are linked in so far as they are the product of concrete factors out of the control of those most affected by it - i.e. people compelled to uproot and move to other countries and parts of the world due to economic factors or in order to flee conflict and the societal collapse that conflict produces.
The prominence that the subject of immigration/migration now has across the northern hemisphere is directly linked to the global economic crisis which began in 2008 which continues to wield havoc, especially in poorer economies that were most exposed to its impact. In political terms it has wrought the collapse of the center ground, opening up space for radical ideas and narratives. Thus we have seen the emergence and rise of movements, parties, and political leaders from both the radical right and left, vying for the hearts and minds of people and communities, especially poorer and low income communities where the impact of migration is felt most, in the battle of ideas.
Comment: What role if any did the Task Force have in his decision to go to Syria? For every dupe like Bhuiya who goes to Syria only to have his illusions shattered, there's another (or more) who have a great time amid the filth and gore. That's what Daesh is designed to do: attract the pathological and naive cannon fodder and head choppers, all in the interests of covert U.S. foreign policy. And now, after having realized the depth of his mistake, Bhuiya has the privilege of becoming property of the FBI. Out of the frying pan...