Book Analysis: Against the Double Blackmail: Refugees, Terror and Other Troubles with the Neighbors

Introduction

In my view, Slavoj Zizek gave important insights about the current issues affecting international relations such as massive movement of refugees, terror in relation to refugee explosion among other troubles people experience near the borders. The insights are clearly given in the book Against the Double Blackmail: Refugees, Terror and Other Troubles with the Neighbors. Despite the fact that the content of the book is of importance to the government, it can do very little in convincing the government to channel all available resources at addressing the issue. That is because the issue of refugees is thought as a normal thing, it is even acceptable to many people as some people move from one country to another, not to cause trouble, but to run away from harsh climatic conditions, war and poverty.

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In the book, the movement of hundreds of thousands of refugees across the Mediterranean in order to get to Europe is caused by issues such as poverty, war, and violence in the countries such people come from. Zizek argues from the standpoint of a person from Europe. According to him, the issue of managing the refugees can be viewed as ideological blackmail in two ways (Zizek, 3). First, allowing all the refugees to come to Europe freely and at any time could seem like a solution. However, it can only serve a purpose of prolonging the problem.

Secondly, preventing the refugees from coming to Europe is also an idea that may be supported by many. However, it is a decision that may be revoked later as some governments may decline and too many refugees may cause population pressure in the welcoming countries. Hence it is also considered as a way of simply prolonging the issue. According to Zizek, allowing the refugees to come into Europe also presents an opportunity for the region to take part in large migrations as it may be the future of the people in Europe (Zizek, 22). Despite the fact that this may lead to a lot of difficult questions and concerns from economists and the general public, it could be a good thing when looked at in the perspective of social wellbeing.

I totally agree with Zizek on his argument that achieving global solidarity is one of the ways in which the issues affecting Europe can be better understood and handled. The global solidarity, in this case, would be of the oppressed and the exploited. Besides the fact that such global solidarity may be ideal, even a dreamland to many Europeans, it is important to hack to the warning by Zizek that refusing to insist on the global solidarity of the oppressed and the exploited would make the region to be deservedly out of reality. The western welfare state taking part in handling the issue of refugees may, however, face some challenges. For instance, the refugees expect the best from their hosting countries but have to retain some of the things that are of importance to them such as their way of life. Such prevents important features that are incompatible with the Western Welfare State's ideological foundations.

Conclusion

Zizek implies optimism in his prognostications as he proposes that Europe set reception centers for the refugees. The reception centers will help as the refugees will be scanned and if they are found harmless and of no threat to the people then they are registered. After registration, transportation should be organized to take them to their potential settlement sites. However, this proposition may not work as many governments may not consent to accepting more refugees into their countries. Even at that, what people need to learn from Zizek's book is that the issue of refugees will not self-correct, hence some sort of solution must be agreed upon by the concerned governments.

Work Cited

Zizek, Slavoj. Refugees, Terror and Other Troubles with the Neighbors. Melville House, 2016, pp. 1-144.