(American Interest) Walter Russell Mead - Countries that were once noted for their hospitality to refugees are becoming polarized. Norway is putting up a steel fence at a remote Arctic border post with Russia after 5,500 migrants mainly from Syria crossed into Norway last year, reflecting a wide shift in public attitudes. The only really effective way to deal with refugee problems is to deal with their causes. As Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Somalia and Yemen slide into anarchy, a wave of desperate refugees and migrants sets off for the security and prosperity of Europe. If the West can't or won't help locals stabilize these countries, the refugee flow will inevitably reach a level at which even the most liberal politicians can no longer keep the doors open. Walter Russell Mead is professor of foreign affairs and humanities at Bard College and professor of American foreign policy at Yale University.
2016-08-26 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive