Critical Considerations
Asynchronous Session
Social and Political Implications of Climate-induced Migration : What Can We Learn from the Most Vulnerable States? View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Maciej Bazela
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests that climate change may have profound structural impacts on economic activities, social conduct, and public policy worldwide. The World Economic Forum signals a strong correlation between a lack of adaptation to climate change, large-scale involuntary migration, and state collapse (WEF, The Global Risks Report 2023, p.10). The same report states that environmental and social risks dominate the list of top 10 risks in terms of severity over the next 10 years. (Ibid. p.6) This paper explores the social and political implications of climate-induced migration. To do so, the investigation identifies a selection of the most environmentally vulnerable states, especially regarding domestic and cross-frontier migration. Secondly, the paper explores the political and social implications of climate-induced migration on the domestic and international levels. Third, it sets out to generate some broad lessons and recommendations that can be useful for political decision-makers worldwide. While exploring the social and political impact of climate change-induced migration, the paper addresses the following questions: What are the most environmentally vulnerable countries? What makes them so? What are the primary environmental factors driving migration? How may climate change trigger large-scale involuntary migration? How may it trigger erosion of social cohesion? How may it affect relations among states? Can it lead to geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions? How can the risk of climate-induced migration be mitigated?
Mercantilism and Epistemology in the Spanish Atlantic World: The Spanish Political and Scientific Expeditions as Drivers of the Creation of Enlightened Academic Institutions in Spanish America during the Bourbon Reforms View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Fernando Dameto Zaforteza
The European commercial empires of the past few centuries based their successes on the mercantilist thesis, which advocated expansionism to supply raw materials and demand manufactured goods at the zero-sum expense of their enemies. The Hapsburg Spanish Monarchy was aware of this phenomenon but failed to implement it effectively. The installation of the Bourbon dynasty and the change of political structure (from a compound to a compact state) allowed the crown to plan a series of reforms in order to advance this economic system. This study considers the Spanish enlightenment scientific expeditions, financed by the crown, aimed to gather reliable information from its overseas dominions, with clear mercantilist aims, which evolved into the creation of a series of enlightenment-style institutions that collected and disseminated scientific knowledge throughout Spanish America.
Social Values in Europe in the 21st Century: Multiculturalism and Post-materialistic Values View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Carlos Felipe Centelles García
This work analyzes the evolution of materialist values and the so-called “new values” – multiculturalism, LGBTI+, environmentalism and feminism – in the European Union in the 21st century, with special focus on multiculturalism and the perception of immigration. It also considers how these values are influenced by certain variables, such as countries, household income, degree of urbanization, education, age, and gender. After a review of the theoretical contributions regarding the topic of values, the data from the biannual waves of the European Social Survey (ESS) are exploited from 2002 to 2018. The multivariate linear regression analysis carried out concludes that richer countries are less prone to materialistic values and more inclined towards “new values” – multiculturalism, LGBTI+, and feminism. In the case of household income, those households with higher incomes tend to be more materialistic. Urban areas subscribe to materialist values and “new values” – multiculturalism, LGBTI+, and feminism – to a greater degree than rural areas, as do young people compared to older people, although older people are more environmentalist. Men are more materialistic, and women more aligned with the “new values.” Likewise, generally speaking, age and education are the greatest predictors of values in the European Union.
Racist Border Policies in Sweden from the Second World War to 2016 : Political Trajectories of Asylum Management View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Lorenzo Delpiano
This paper takes as its starting point the complex and ambivalent relationship between Sweden and the phenomenon of migratory movements to the country. Historically, the Scandinavian state has alternately opened and closed its borders to control, filter, and block incoming migration flows. The study of Swedish migration policies can thus shed light on the criteria and justifications put forward to explain entries to the country that have become, increasingly, fragmented and contingent. Through extensive academic literature review and adopting an interpretative and critical view, I argue that Sweden made use in different historical moments of political, legislative, and administrative instruments to manage national borders drawing clear lines of demarcation between those who are welcome and those who are barred from entering the national ground. These lines follow the unstable course of precise political wills that favor specific migrant groups and individuals with certain profiles and characteristics while making access to the country long and difficult for others. These findings are in stark contrast with the commonly shared image of Sweden as a country attentive to discrimination and committed to combating it. Therefore, this paper is relevant for two main reasons. On the one hand, it puts the Scandinavian State and its politics in perspective, analyzing its asylum policies. On the other hand, it explains the recent rise of the far-right party of the Sweden Democrats as the ultimate consequence of a long process of closing national borders.
