Salzburg Global Fellow Abdul Moiz writes about 21st century Europe’s mass migration
This op-ed was written by Abdul Moiz, who attended the Public Policy New Voices Europe program "Advancing Together: Empowering Diverse Leadership in Public Policy" in Salzburg from September 24 to 28, 2023.
Since the start of the 21st century, Europe has remained the epicenter of mass migration. Few have migrated for a better life, but most, against their will, have been displaced from their homes. Be it due to the war in Ukraine or decades-long conflict in Syria and other parts of the world, mass migration is undisputedly Europe’s biggest challenge.
The woes of migrants are often the same: displacement, losing loved ones, and much more. Unsurprisingly, what remains different is the perceptive notion attached to specific migrant communities, which has accumulated over the last two decades. The most affected are Muslim migrants. The Muslim migrant community faces the brunt of xenophobia, whereby, to this day, Muslims in Europe are depicted as opportunistic immigrants seeking to exploit their host societies.
Within the existing bureaucratic system, Muslims are labelled as “terrorists” and “swamps” who are unwilling to adapt to European values. This is further perpetuated by mainstream media, which exacerbates such labels within society and fabricates a notion of “othering”. This systemic targeting of Muslims has created new lengths of division within what was once a thriving multicultural Europe.
Does the given political system truly accommodate all? Of course not. Transforming the system from within is a dream many minds foresee, which only remains probable if more leaders from black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities are consulted, hired, and heard. What can and will be more effective is having platforms where these uncomfortable but necessary conversations take place.
As a Fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar’s Public Policy New Voices Europe, many like myself, for the first time, truly experienced a safe space for such silenced conversations. Without any fear of repercussions or thoughts of being misconstrued, discussions around disparity in the treatment of migrants were one of the key topics at the event. Public Policy New Voices Europe provides a unique platform for young leaders to openly engage in conversations that most of us from minority backgrounds not only resonate with but also wish to use to proactively change the external narrative.
It is crucially imperative to drive transformation within and hold accountable the system that was designed to marginalize members of Muslim and minority communities; what truly creates magic is advocacy and engagement that enables us to deconstruct the narrative. Public Policy New Voices Europe takes this a step further by involving stakeholders from major international firms such as The Walt Disney Company, The LEGO Group, and Squire Patton Boggs in providing a shared space where sensitive issues are addressed, and young leaders can present public policy initiatives.
With the rise of the far right in Europe and brazen political positioning on migration issues from politicians like Rishi Sunak in the UK and Giorgia Meloni in Italy, the European political structure is on the cusp of an extremely concerning xenophobic movement that is not dissimilar to Nazi Germany. Whilst European minorities grapple with systemic failure, initiatives like Public Policy New Voices Europe work to address political polarization in the public policy sphere, enabling transparent dialogue and curating commitments for a better future.
Abdul Moiz holds an MA in War Studies from King’s College London and specializes in conflict resolution and far-right politics. He is a Fellow of Salzburg Global’s Public Policy New Voices Europe Fellowship cohort 2.
Public Policy New Voices Europe connects, supports, and empowers a new generation of diverse leaders in public policy across Europe. This dynamic year-long fellowship program seeks to address the challenges faced by underrepresented groups and emerging leaders in the public policy arena by providing a platform for support, mentorship, networking and skill-building. connects, supports, and empowers a new generation of diverse leaders in public policy across Europe. This dynamic year-long fellowship program seeks to address the challenges faced by underrepresented groups and emerging leaders in the public policy arena by providing a platform for support, mentorship, networking, and skill-building.
