The Scramble for Europe

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Mass migration is one of the most pressing issues today, highlighted by the perilous journeys of migrants across the Mediterranean and the crisis at the US-Mexico border. Solutions seem increasingly elusive amid polarized public attitudes and political stances. The focus here is on 'young Africa,' where 40% of the population is under fifteen, signaling a dramatic demographic shift. Currently, 510 million people reside within EU borders, while Africa has 1.25 billion. By 2050, Europe will have 450 million people facing 2.5 billion Africans—five times their number. This demographic reality echoes the historical 'scramble for Africa' at the end of the nineteenth century, where 275 million lived north of the Mediterranean compared to 100 million to the south. The current migration is driven by young Africans seeking better lives in Europe, a land of opportunity. If migration patterns mirror those of other developing regions, a quarter of Europe's population could be Afro-Europeans in thirty years. Addressing how Europe can manage this influx, the author proposes a balanced approach to migration policies, advocating for 'good neighbourhood' strategies that avoid guilt-driven self-denial and nativist egoism. This analysis is crucial for understanding the significant social and political challenges of our time.