June 2, 2016 - The Peace Report is a joint yearbook published annually by German peace research institutes – one of them is PRIF. Researchers from various disciplines analyze and investigate current conflicts and crises. They formulate policy recommendations for peace and security policy in Germany and Europe.
This year's Peace Report focuses on causes of flight : What are the causes of the flight? And to what extent is Europe responsible?
An interview with Bruno Schoch, one of the editors, about the main topics of the Peace Report 2016.
What is the main focus of the new Peace Report?
Germany is deeply divided in its reaction towards the refugee topic. On the one hand there is an impressive solidarity, hundreds of thousands are involved in refugee relief; on the other hand there are resentments, hate and attacks against refugee accommodations. The polarization of society is a challenge for politics, society and peace and conflict research. The focus was obvious: „Causes of flight in focus: Assuming responsibility.“ We want to contribute to a more factual debate.
To what extent is Europe responsible for the mass flight?
In my opinion, the main cause is endogenous, often it's state failure. If states cannot provide services for the community and if authoritarian regimes last through repression, then social and political issues easily escalate into violence and civil war. However, Europeans are responsible to some extent. The Iraq war 2003 might have overthrown the dictator – but the dissolution of the military and the exclusion of Sunnis led to a failed state and fueled the so-called Islamic State (IS).
The military intervention in Libya saved the civil society from the announced acts of rage by the regime. But since a concept for political reintegration was missing, the intervention threw the country into chaos.
Therefore, failed interventions have also caused the disaster in the region. In Syria the West shied away from intervening. The West raised hopes by calling for Assad's removal, but refused to help the opposition. This strengthened the IS in the end. Russia's air strikes made the situation even more complicated.
How can Europe fulfill its responsibility?
First of all Europe needs to critically evaluate western interventions and their results. President Obama quite recently declared the lack of strategy for Libya was the worst mistake of his presidency. The Europeans assumed for a long time, that the US is ensuring stability in the middle east – even though the „pivot“ towards the Pacific has been announced for a while. The refugee crisis shows Europe quite plainly that the distinction between inside and outside is blurred. This is why we have to get more engaged in regulatory- and security-policies in the crisis region.
I would like to remind that many refugees from Syria had initially found refuge in neighboring countries. In the last year, the UN and international aid agencies had to reduce their support since the rich Europeans haven’t equipped the relief organizations enough. The refugees seemed „far away“. There are signs that this will change now.
The terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris increased the distrust towards Muslim citizens and refugees. How can we meet these challenges?
The events on New Year's Eve in Cologne might have been even more important in this case. Necessary are information, more integration-efforts as well as the enforcement of the law. Where refugees from other, traditional cultures meet with our European individualized, libertarian and tolerant societies, conflicts occur. It's important to confront these conflicts, to broach the issue – and to learn from them together. To keep quiet about thosetriggers the opposite of the actual intentions: It increases fear, insecurity and aggressions.
The Editors' Statement (in German) summarizes the results and formulates policy recommendations for peace and security policy in Germany and Europe.
Further Information:
Events:
A series of lectures (in German) will take place in June 2016 at University of Basel in collaboration with PRIF: "Der neue Exodus und seine Hintergründe. Massenbewegungen und Fluchtursachen" (Flyer, pdf)
Panel discussion (in German) on 29th of June in Frankfurt: Krise ohne Grenzen? Die EU und die Flüchtlinge. Vorstellung des Friedensgutachten 2016.
Panel discussion (in German) on 4th of July in Frankfurt: Syria – a pile of ruins / War, terror and mass flight – Where to go from here?