World population explosion, migration and solidarity in Europe

Abstract

World population growth has often been portrayed as a demographic “time bomb” threatening solidarity in Europe because of the combination of young and rapidly growing populations in the South and ageing and potentially shrinking populations in Europe. I argue that the “time bomb” metaphor is misleading and unproductive. I review what we know about migration from Africa to Europe. Next, I discuss how and why policy responses to immigration in Europe have been inconsistent and ineffective, as they are misguided by a combination of Malthusian fears and the framing of migration as a matter of solidarity. Europe should open up new channels of orderly migration, including labour migration. While anti-immigration sentiments are widespread, there also exist important manifestations of positive attitudes, particularly among younger generations.