Populism and Migration: The Need for a Principled

Transcript:Populism and Migration: The Need for a Principled:
Populism and Migration: The Need for a Principled Response to Migration Challenges François Crépeau Hans & Tamar Oppenheimer Professor of Public International Law, McGill University Director, McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants WTI Bern, 22 June 2017 A definition of populism (…) a loose political ideology emphasizing faith in the ‘decent’, ‘ordinary’ or ‘little’ people over the corrupt political and corporate establishment, nationalist interests (Us) over cosmopolitanism cooperation across borders (Them), protectionist policies regulating the movement of trade, people and finance over global free trade, xenophobia over tolerance of multiculturalism, strong individual leadership over diplomatic bargaining and flexible negotiations, isolationism in foreign and defense policies over international engagement, traditional sex roles for women and men over more fluid gender identities and roles, and traditional over progressive values. Ronald Inglehard & Pippa Norris (2016) “Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash” Faculty Research Working Paper Series John F. Kennedy School of Government https://research.hks.harvard.edu/publications/workingpapers/Index.aspx A definition of populism The cultural cleavage divides Populism from Cosmopolitan Liberalism, which favors the free flow of people, ideas, capital, and cultures across national borders, and pluralistic forms of governance based on respect for the protection of minority rights and checks and balances in decision-making processes. Ronald Inglehard & Pippa Norris (2016) “Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have-Nots and Cultural Backlash” Faculty Research Working Paper Series John F. Kennedy School of Government https://research.hks.harvard.edu/publications/workingpapers/Index.aspx Economic Inequality Perspective Profound changes transforming the workforce and society in post-industrial economies Rising economic insecurity and social deprivation among the left-behinds fuel popular resentment against the political class The less secure strata of society : low-waged unskilled workers, long-term unemployed, households dependent on shrinking social benefits, residents of public housing, single-parent families, and poorer white populations living in inner-city areas with concentrations of immigrants Susceptible to the anti-establishment, nativist, and xenophobic scare-mongering of the populist discourse, blaming ‘Them’ for stripping prosperity, job opportunities, and public services from ‘Us’ Cultural Backlash Perspective Not a purely economic phenomenon A reaction against progressive cultural change, as they: Sense decline Reject the rising tide of progressive values Resent the displacement of familiar traditional norms Sectors once culturally predominant in Western Europe react angrily to the erosion of their privileges and status A counter-revolutionary retro backlash, especially among the older generation, white men, and less educated sectors: “rights