Pardee School Centers: ‘Frontiers of Fear’
At a recent event held at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, European academics Ariane Chebel D’Appollonia and Thomas Volk presented a sobering view of the current influx of Syrian refugees to the European Union – and what must be done to address the humanitarian crisis.
“Frontiers of Fear” was held at the Pardee School on Nov. 2. It was presented by the Pardee School’s affiliated regional studies centers the Center for the Study of Europe, the Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civizilations, and the Institute on Culture, Religion and World Affairs, as well as the American Council on Germany.
“This is a multifaceted crisis,” said Chebel D’Appollonia. “According to the most recent estimates, there are 750,000 refugees in Europe, with 400,000 of those seeking asylum in European nations. 70 people died last week attempting to cross into Europe; 3,000 have died so far in the Mediterranean.”
The discussion was moderated by Vivien Schmidt, Professor of International Relations and Political Science.
Chebel D’Appollonia is Professor at the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers–State University of New Jersey. Her research focuses on politics of immigration and anti-discrimination, security issues, racism and xenophobia, extreme right wing movements, immigrant integration, urban racism and European Politics. She is author of Frontiers of Fear: Immigration and Insecurity in the United States and Europe, the book which gave the event its title.
“The EU and EU member states have plated a role creating some of the ingredients of this crisis,” Chebel D’Appollonia said. “Concerns of terrorism and the ‘securitization’ of immigration and border policy have created a system of perfectly legal violations of the Geneva convention, detention camps, deportation, and humanitarian crisis.”
Volk is a Ph.D. student at the Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Basel and Coordinator for Islam and Dialogue Between Religions at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Fluent in Turkish, he has in-depth knowledge of Islam and the Muslim community in Germany.
“Before the year 2030, Germany is estimated to have a seven percent Muslim population, and concerns about Islamization of German society are fueling a rise in right-wing nationalist groups and activities,” Volk said. “There is a rising tide of skepticism about Islam; 57 percent of Germans polled said they believed Muslims were a threat to Germany.
Chebel D’Appollonia called for common immigration policies and more pathways for legal immigration. But as Volk pointed out, some EU member states such as Hungary have refused to admit refugees at all.
“You have both demonstrated in your remarks that, where the EU has policies, they do not work,” said Schmidt in opening the event to questions. “Across Europe, we are seeing tremendous problems.”
Vivien A. Schmidt is Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration, Professor of International Relations and Political Science at Boston University, and Founding Director of BU’s Center for the Study of Europe. Her research focuses on European political economy, institutions, democracy, and political theory. Learn more about her here.