Migration as Decolonization

The concepts of immigration, migration, colonization, decolonization and sovereignty are controversial in the international law. Rising cases of insecurity, economic meltdown and political instability among others imply that there is an increase in asylum seekers in the developed countries drawing reference to decolonization. Therefore, immigration is such a debatable global issue that some developed countries have adopted tough policies preventing immigrants from moving into their countries or at least regulating their number. In light of this, the paper summarizes key concepts, theories, arguments and terms advanced by E. Tendayi Achiume in the article “Migration as Decolonization.” In essence, discussing why states have the right to exclude non-nationals, it sparks the debate on decolonization, human rights violation and sovereignty.

Migration as Decolonization

International migration is one of definitive contemporary problems. Currently, states are obliged to exclude non-nationals under international law although human rights groups and activists largely oppose such a mandate given by the states. Therefore, it opens up the debate on citizenship and what it means in the international set up. Furthermore, with the international refugee law and human rights law imposing restrictions on the right of states to exclude non-nationals, uncertainty regarding the criteria to implement this law remains clear. As a result, it leaves states with their own tools to control the process. In other words, states are virtually mandated to pursue their interests against the natural order of issues.

Opponents of the leverage that the international law gives to the states regarding exclusion of non-citizens argue that specific issues should be revised before the policy is entirely enforced. For instance, citizens whose lives are in danger, such as political persecution, must be protected. This grievance is captured by the international refugee rights and human rights as well. However, the issue of economic migrants is not covered by this agreement. Importantly, economic migrants are squarely motivated by the desire for a better life. The lack of protection for the economic migrants from being admitted into foreign citizenship, therefore, forms the foundation of the article.

The legacy of the European countries involves movement and settlement of people all over the world. For instance, between the 18th and 20th centuries, more than 62 million Europeans settled in all colonies of the world. Such a movement and subsequent settlement connotes to the European project. Based on this project, current migration policies adopted in the European countries and across the world do not correspond to the activities of the European nations in the 18th up to the 20th century. The European project equally involved movement of human and natural resources through the countries. As a result, it greatly benefited Europeans and Europe.

Global interconnections and political and economic subordination over the course of history obligates European countries to open their borders for migrants, particularly economic migrants. Economic migrants are more than deserving to be accepted into European countries alluding to decolonization. In other words, stable European economies can be traced back to exploitation of their colonies leaving their subjects with nothing to sustain independent growth. Migrants from developing countries are exercising decolonization because their current economic woes perfectly place European colonialists into the picture. Apparently, corrective distributive justice alluding to the colonial times gives economic migrants the right for admission into the developed countries.

Conclusion

Economic and political subordination of the developing countries during the implementation of the European project between the 18th and 20th century compels admission of the former subjects into the developed states. The article argues that European prosperity is founded on the remittance of human and natural resources from their colonies during colonization. Therefore, the current state of the developing countries can be explained by their exploitation for the benefit of Europe and Europeans. Economic migrants, not political ones, should be prioritized in admission to European nations.

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