Watching the political currents shift across Europe, I am struck by the hardening of hearts and borders. The discourse, as detailed in analyses from the Council on Foreign Relations and briefings from institutions like the UK Parliament, points towards an unsettling consensus: build higher walls, create stricter laws, and deter at all costs. Policies like those championed by leaders such as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak seem to be the new norm, treating a profoundly human issue as a matter of national security to be managed, rather than a reality to be navigated with compassion and foresight.
It’s impossible for me not to view this through a psychological lens. Years ago, I shared some thoughts on cognitive biases in a piece titled "15 Incredible Facts About the Human Mind". One of the key takeaways was the concept of “Groupthink,” where large groups tend to make decisions based on emotion rather than logic. Today, this phenomenon is playing out on a continental scale. The narrative of migration has been so effectively tied to fear that entire nations are succumbing to emotional reasoning, creating policies that may feel satisfyingly tough but are strategically and morally flawed.
We see the fundamental attribution error at play: we blame the difficult circumstances of migrants on their inherent nature or choices, while blaming our own societal problems—be it economic strain or cultural anxiety—on external forces. This convenient, subconscious sorting allows for the dehumanization necessary to enact ever harsher policies.
This trend towards securitization is something I saw coming. Back in 2015, I wrote about a global shift “From Inter-Pol to Inter-Mil”, describing a move from international cooperation and policing towards a more militarized approach to global problems. The core idea I wanted to convey was that we were beginning to treat complex human issues as security threats. Now, seeing how Europe's borders are being fortified with advanced surveillance and security forces, it feels like a direct fulfillment of that prediction. The asylum seeker is no longer a person seeking refuge, but a threat to be neutralized.
Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation mixed with deep concern. My earlier musings on the erosion of privacy through technology, as in “Seeing AI through Google Glass ?”, also feel eerily relevant. We are building digital fortresses, using AI to monitor, track, and filter human beings. The dream of a connected world is giving way to a reality of surveilled, segregated spaces.
The challenge isn't the movement of people; it is a timeless feature of human history. The real challenge is the rigidity of our own minds and the brittleness of our political systems. Building walls, whether physical or digital, is an admission of failure—a failure to adapt, to innovate, and to see the humanity in others. Instead of a Fortress Europe, we should be architecting a more resilient, integrated, and compassionate global community.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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