I was wondering why so many of us aren't too crazy about immigrants, considering we're meant to be a multi-cultural, global and above all politically-correct society here in Australia. At first I thought it much be because Australians are somewhat lay and can't be bothered competing for jobs with hard-working Asians. While this might be true, it dawned on me that the stuff we keep hearing from economists, polticians and uni lecturers about globalisation and its dominance could be having a lend of us. I know many people argue that globalism broke after last year's Financial Crisis, but here's why I reckon it never truly existed. So if you're doing "Macroeconomics and the Rise of the Global Economy" listen up.
Why has what many politicians and right-wing commentators call "the immigration problem" become in many Western countries a fundamental datum of state policy? (This is particularly topical as the Rudd Government is posied to announce cutbacks of migration quotas). Basically, because foreigners who arive, live and work here are proof that the thesis of a democratic unity in the world (realised by the market and the "international community", by the way: what comprises the international community? It certainly isn't the servility dubbed the UN, or the "civilised" USA and its clientele) is a sham. If globalisation was a reality, we would welcome these "foreigners" as people coming from the same world as ourselves. We would treat them as someone coming from another region of Australia who stops over in our town, then finds work and settles here. But this is not at all what happens
The most widespread conviction, and one which both Labor and Liberal policies seek to reinforce, is that these people come from a different world. That is the problem. They are living proof that our democratic and developed world is not, for those in charge of the dominant capitalist order, the only world of women and men. There exist in our midst women and men who, although they live and work here like anyone else, are considered to have come from another world. Money is the same everywhere (as dollars can be readily exchanged for euros, and the dollars, or more often yuan, of immigrants is readily accepted by everyone). But as for these people themselves, because of their origin and/or mode of existance we are told that they are not part of our world.
State authorities and their blind followers will keep tabs on them, ban them from staying, mercilessly ciritcise their customs, their way of dressing, their family or religious practises. Many people, inspired by fear and organised in this fear by the state, anxiously wonder how many of them there are among us, these people from a different world. Tens of thousands? Millions? And this question inevitably leads to persecution, prohibition and explusion on a mass scale. This question, in 1930's Germany, paved the way for extermination.
Yes, I am criticising our attitudes towards foreigners as well, however what I am really trying to illustrate to you is that we are told two contradicting things: that globalisation is alive and well, and that movement of human capital internationally must be restricted. Just one example of how ironic the state of affairs is today. And if you feel squeamish about my observations about Australian attitudes towards immigrants, well good. Maybe if we make a change as a society there will be less reason for you to feel disturbed.
Cheers for reading. Hope your day's better than the Tamil Tigers'.
