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There is a tide of nationalism rising and it is gathering momentum across the globe. The standout poster boy for this movement is obviously US President Donald Trump. From his election campaign promise to institute a Muslim ban, to his pontificating about a migrant threat from central America, to his latest Twitter outburst in which he told four US congresswomen to “go back” to where they came from, the swell of nationalism is gaining ground.
But the US is not the only country being led by politics and politicians veering dangerously to the right. This week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government has taken up the exercise of identifying undocumented immigrants and deporting them in earnest. It was also an election campaign pillar.
Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament: “Illegal immigrants living on every inch of this country will be deported according to the law.”
He was referring to the Muslim minority.
And in Europe, the immigration diaspora of African and Middle Eastern people fleeing their countries has also led to the election of hard right politicians and the rise of fascism.
South Africa, too, is no stranger to the politics of anti-immigration nor the violence that often accompanies it.
Driven by joblessness and poverty, many South Africans see the influx of foreigners as a threat to their livelihood.
We would do well to heed the signs. As the world scrambles for resources and stability in a time of economic and geopolitical flux, the temptation to close borders looms large. When we other people under the guise of nationalism, we encourage feelings of antipathy, the precursor of violence.
We must beware of building walls so high, they collapse and kill us all.
