Photo credit to Corbis.
A quick take on what’s going on as Europe deals with a growing crisis of refugees and migrants.
1 The European Union’s dual crises of summer 2015 are both destabilizing, & both show failures of EU governance structure. #migrantcrisis
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
2 EU states still in ‘Articles of Confederation’ mode, too united to be truly sovereign & too loosely joined to be politically integrated.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
3 So no systemic policy to address depression-level GDP contraction and joblessness in Greece, S. Italy, Portugal, Spain. Kick the can.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
4. Just like no systemic policy to handle waves of refugees from Syria (also Eritrea, Afghanistan, Sudan) Or Russian aggression, etc.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
5 Response to #Grexit crisis jarring dysfunction b/c it showed Merkel, Schaüble et al not willing to save the day for unity at all costs.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
6 Response to #refugeescrisis ‘familiar’ old EU dysfunction, though. UK, Hungary truculent, while Germany, Sweden take up the slack.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
7 Germany, however, w/ demographic decline over next 30 years, will actually boost its population w/ eager, young hard-working #Syrians.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
8 Unlike Italy/France, Germany’s record (though not perfect) w/ Turkish immigrants shows it can integrate new cultures w/ respect.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
9 As with dev’t of eurozone in 1990, debt convergence in 2000, Germany’s ‘sacrifice’ of refugee relief will eventually boost productivity.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015
10 In 30 yrs, eastern Europe, now most closed to ‘Muslim’ refugees, will be alternatively be hollowed out by economic, demographic forces.
— Kevin Lees (@Suffragio) September 8, 2015