A “variable geometry” solidarity? While more than 870,000 civilians have fled the war in Ukraine to neighboring countries, voices are being raised to denounce the difference in media and political treatment of the question of refugees according to their origins. So far, the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s war in their country have received a tremendous outpouring of solidarity and are welcomed with open arms in Europe. But when Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans were also fleeing local conflicts, European leaders spoke of a “migrant crisis”.
Some remarks also shocked. In France, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, Jean-Louis Bourlanges (MoDem), caused controversy by declaring that the Ukrainians would be a “high quality immigration that we can take advantage of”. The editorialist Christophe Barbier affirmed that there was “an obvious humanitarian gesture” to do with the Ukrainians, not least because they “are culturally Europeans”.
For Michel Agier, anthropologist and director of studies at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), “the solidarity with the Ukrainian people, on the spot or in exile, is without comparison with the previous episodes” waves of migration. According to the director of the political department of the Institut convergences migrations, co-author of Babels. Surveys on the migrant condition (Trial points, 1,024 p., 12.50 euros), this unprecedented solidarity is explained by the “diplomatic and geopolitical relations” closeness between Ukraine and Europe.
Several European countries, including France, have volunteered to welcome Ukrainian refugees. How to explain this posture of openness?
Michael Agier: First, we can rejoice to hear words of solidarity towards refugees and to observe a moment of European solidarity taking shape in a few days with Ukraine.
For many, Ukraine is a European country and its position as a buffer country with Russia makes it an area on which all the attention of European and world leaders is focused. The war is taking place at the gates of Europe. Solidarity with the Ukrainian people, on the spot or in exile, is without comparison with the previous episodes. This should shed light on a general fact, namely that geopolitical and diplomatic relations are decisive in the recognition of refugee status.
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