Tracing the Roots of Today's Migration Crisis: A Turning Point in Global Politics

This article is part of a series examining contemporary migration patterns and their profound impact on societies worldwide.

In recent years, hostility toward migrants has become a seemingly unshakable force in global politics, as if an immutable law of nature. However, this sentiment emerged rapidly, intensifying notably since 2016, catalyzed by Britain's decision to exit the European Union and reinforced by significant political shifts in the United States.

The pivotal moment arrived in 2015 when over a million migrants sought asylum in Europe, many risking perilous sea journeys across the Mediterranean. Among them was Alan Kurdi, a two-year-old Syrian boy who tragically drowned alongside his mother and brother. The haunting image of his lifeless body washed ashore in Turkey reverberated worldwide, starkly revealing the human cost of the Syrian conflict.

Despite initial commitments by European leaders to welcome refugees, public opinion turned sharply against migration. Following the Brexit referendum, right-wing political factions across various nations gained momentum by stoking fears and scapegoating migrants. In the United States, these tactics were refined to great effect, helping shape electoral outcomes through narratives of imagined threats from diverse immigrant groups.

The Syrian civil war fundamentally altered global power dynamics. It served as a testing ground for modern warfare and geopolitical rivalry, dismantled long-standing assumptions about humanitarian intervention and international law, and facilitated the rise of extremist groups that inflicted widespread terror. This conflict hastened the decline of American dominance, creating space for new powers to assert influence and exposing the fragility of a post-World War II order once believed to guarantee peace and prosperity.