The recent past has been a witness to the increasing rise of ‘economic-nationalism’, anti-immigration policies and increasing xenophobia. Countries which in the past have welcomed immigrants, and have been protagonists of Free Trade and open borders, while immensely benefitting from the same, are becoming more and more insular, while this point got strongly reiterated by the election of Donald Trump, whose campaign focused on these issues, as US President. Apart from the US, the UK, many of the EU member states, and Australia too are becoming more and more inward looking.
and Canada have tried to develop an alternative narrative while being open to immigrants, and opening their doors to refugees. Leaders of these countries; Justin Trudeau in Canada, like Angela Merkel deserve immense credit for exhibiting courage and conviction and not capitulating before populist and ultra nationalist sentiments.
Both Trudeau and Merkel have opened their doors to refugees, while Trudeau opened his country’s doors to nearly 40,000 Syrian refugees. After the US imposed a ban on immigrants from certain Muslim countries, he tweeted: ‘To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”
and Canada have tried to develop an alternative narrative while being open to immigrants, and opening their doors to refugees. Leaders of these countries; Justin Trudeau in Canada, like Angela Merkel deserve immense credit for exhibiting courage and conviction and not capitulating before populist and ultra nationalist sentiments.
Both Trudeau and Merkel have opened their doors to refugees, while Trudeau opened his country’s doors to nearly 40,000 Syrian refugees. After the US imposed a ban on immigrants from certain Muslim countries, he tweeted: ‘To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”
