Refugee Crises: the role of culture & politics
Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, the world descended into chaos and shock.
But the most shocking aspects of the invasion were to come later.
Immediately, media outlets found themselves swept up in the controversy of Ukrainians fleeing the war and their overall perceptions of the refugees. Several news anchors were criticized following their comments on the surrealness of an invasion in Ukraine (a country in Eastern Europe), suggesting that the violence and perceived savagery of war was unfitting of a ‘civilized’ European state. Such comments are, if not rooted in racism and preconceived notions of European supremacy, then certainly rooted in ignorance.
Atrocities start with words and dehumanization.
Atrocities unleashed upon millions in the ME, fueled by dictators labeled as reformists in the west.
The racist subtext: Afghans, Iraqi & Syrian lives don’t matter, for they are deemed inferior—“uncivilized.”pic.twitter.com/hC1JAkIHym— Rula Jebreal (@rulajebreal) February 26, 2022
The issues lie in the West’s views of Ukrainians, which in turn affects governments’ policies towards the refugees. Comments like the ones made by journalists show that people become desensitized to the atrocities of war faced in Iraq or Syria, for example, and can’t comprehend that something as horrible can happen to those that are perhaps more “like us.”
“On est au 21e siècle, on est dans une ville européenne, et on a des tirs de missiles de croisière comme si on était en Irak ou en Afghanistan, vous imaginez !” pic.twitter.com/Y0mvnGa22H
— Caisses de grève (@caissesdegreve) February 26, 2022
Though the refugee crises in Syria and Afghanistan received massive media coverage, general attitudes towards the fleeing members of these countries were starkly different. This brings us to pose the question: what role does culture and race play in our treatment of war refugees?
Double Standards
The EU welcomed approximately 8 million refugees. Poland, who has welcomed 1.5 million refugees since the war started, has faced some backlash, because not long ago it denied entry to thousands fleeing the wars in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In March of 2022, the US welcomed 100,000 refugees from the war-torn country. Though, none of this was without controversy.
Various human rights experts point to the role of race as a major component of the issue. Comments from journalists suggest that many Westerners view Ukrainians as “one of us” or that they are more “like us” at least in appearance. Moreover, UN-appointed human rights expert Felipe Gonzalez Morales has noted that many third-country nationals living and studying in Ukraine have also faced discrimination at the borders of the European Union. He attributes this to differences in racial, ethnic, and cultural background.
A major component in the mistreatment of refugees is also due to the nature of the war itself. The war in Ukraine versus the wars in Syria or Afghanistan owe much of the world’s response to the zeitgeist. By comparison, the war in Syria was seen mainly as a fight against the Islamic State and terrorism, thereby heavily tainting the West’s perception of the Syrian community (even if they had no involvement with Islamic extremists). Even Bashar al-Assad referred to innocent Syrian civilians as terrorists. All in all, xenophobia and Islamophobia combined to cast fleeing Syrians in a negative light.
On the other hand, Ukraine has long been an ally to Western states, having pursued EU membership since 2014 (it officially became a candidate in June 2022). Though not a NATO member, Ukraine has shown strong opposition to President Vladimir Putin, who remains a key opponent to the West. So, aside from racial or cultural differences, politics also play a role in the way the citizens of war torn countries are treated abroad.
Now, I feel compelled to give some clarification. Offering humanitarian aid to Ukraine is important; however, I think it’s crucial now more than ever to analyze our approach to the humanitarian aid being provided, and to recognize the double standards faced by thousands of refugees worldwide. At the end of the day, human rights are for all.
I found this post really interesting and appreciate how you elaborated on both perspectives of this issue. I agree with the fact that Americans are more likely to view Ukrainians as ‘one of us’ and I thought it was interesting how this could impact our response to refugees entering the nation. It is a tricky situation to navigate because like you had mentioned, of course it is a positive thing that America is willing to help these Ukrainian refugees but it also begs the question why we have not been so open to other groups.
I appreciate that you are highlighting such an important issue of our time. Over the last decade and a half our world has seen millions of refugees flee their homes in search of safety. I agree that it is imperative that strong and stable countries do what they can to support everyone who is searching for a safe haven. I also like how you included specific examples of the racism involved in the contrasting refugee situations stemming from Europe and the Middle East.
This was a really cool and interesting post. I agree that there have been a lot of double standards regarding the refugees from Ukraine and those from the Middle East. I liked your use of tweets as evidence of this double standard and how some people have been making inappropriate comments about this situation.
Things always have two meanings. Many events in this world are interconnected. When wars break out, the disruption that occurs in the chain of import and export of goods can affect many nations. This is completely useless and will benefit no one.