Mitarbeiter sonstige

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Migration in the new global order: an opportunity to facilitate, instead of a problem to be securitised

Martin-Shields, Charles / Jana Kuhnt / Susan Ekoh / Rose Jaji
Mitarbeiter sonstige (2026)

in: Mark Furness / Niels Keijzer (eds.), International development cooperation and the emerging global order, Bonn: German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), 39-42

ISBN: 978-3-96021-288-1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23661/idp4.2026

Migration, displacement and asylum: Public debate around migration and refugee policy has become increasingly polarised worldwide. A political discourse steeped in mis- and disinformation, political agendas that devalue cooperation and prioritise national interests, and a resurgence of racism and xenophobia have made the pursuit of practical, humane solutions to the legitimate migration and asylum policy challenges governments face nearly impossible (Jaji, 2024). Compounding these political factors are the financial impacts of the US withdrawal from the global cooperation system. Funding shortfalls mean, for example, that food aid and medicines are not being delivered, acutely affecting refugees in Sudan and Kenya, and leaving countries such as Colombia without the money to implement special protection policies for Venezuelan displaced people (López & Kuhnt, 2026). Although national actors can find ways to bridge the gap between stated goals and available funds, for multilateral actors, the reality is that the money is simply not available to meet the aggregate need for coordinated aid delivery in complex regional displacement crises (Ikanda & Owiso, 2026). If high-income countries no longer honour foundational agreements such as the 1951 Refugee Convention, why should countries such as Kenya and Turkey, both of which bear a very high refugee-hosting burden, honour their commitments to implement the international agreements? For development cooperation, winning the political argument for migration policies that focus on facilitation is crucial. For too long, the EU and other donors have pushed policies that run contrary to the freedom of movement agreements in Africa and Latin America (Dick & Schraven, 2019). 

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