News that Israel is considering resettling Gazans in South Sudan is a reminder that for citizens of failing states, escape to the first world is becoming less and less an option. “Israel is in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the war-torn East African country, part of a wider effort by Israel to facilitate mass emigration from the territory left in ruins by its 22-month offensive against Hamas.”
The fragile state index (FSI) lists and rank the worst places in the world to be born in, where moving to any other place is a step up. Places like Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, DR Congo, Yemen, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Haiti and of course Gaza top the places you don’t want to be. By sorting the fragile state index in reverse we conversely arrive at a list of places people want to be in: Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada …
The solution to the problem of failed states that humanitarians advocate is simply to move the people from group one to the countries in group two. That is to take predominantly black and Muslim populations and transfer them to Europe. Unfortunately rising political resistance means this is no longer possible on a large scale.
No country for example, seems willing to accept people from Gaza. Not even neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan. Not even countries who profess a desire to recognize a Palestinian state. As practical matter only the least desirable destinations — like South Sudan — are open to them. Thus citizens of failed states can move to another failed state and nowhere else.
This is an admission that the UN and “the World” have failed to figure out a way to repair dyfunctional societies. Instead of decreasing in number they are actually multiplying. But this cannot go on forever. Gaza is the first to make a lateral move to hell. But it is surely not the last. And it doesn’t solve the problem, any more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.