Italy’s minister for integration Cecile Kyenge recently gave an interview which struck me for its simplicity and reasonability. Kyenge is the unassuming Italo-Congolese politician and ophthalmologist who shot to popularity after a senator from the Northern League party likened her to an orangutan. Typically, he only apologised after he was heavily criticised.
It would be an understatement to point out that personal insults should play no part if there is to be a civilised and democratic discussion between the minister and those who have different views to hers. But we’ve been down that road already only recently.
So anyhow, when asked how she coped with the racist attacks, Kyenge replied that it was not easy. She answered with grace and civility: “Since my appointment I have suffered racist attacks every day. I don’t consider these to be attacks on me personally, but rather attacks on the institution that I represent. At the same time, it is a major experience. This difficult part of my life is always in my mind. My goal is always the same – to support others.”
Many things happening today are not due to the fact that Italy is racist, but because Italy is experiencing a time of change, which has not been supported by good policies or communication that explain the phenomenon of migration, but most of all by education based on Italian history.”
Kyenge drives home the point that historically Italy has experience both as a coloniser and also as a country whose citizens have migrated in droves to various parts of the world, looking for a better future.
The aspect of colonialism is an important part in the immigration equation, for those who do not wish to look the other way when it comes to responsibilities. Europeans carved Africa up into slices for their own benefit. True, there are different types of colonialism spread over time, which do not represent the same historic phenomenon. But European countries do have a lot to account for when it comes to the colonisation of the various African states when seeking their share of ‘places in the sun’ and the situations these countries are in today.
Sociologist and economic historian Andre Gunder Frank held that colonialism brings about the net transfer of wealth from the colonised to the coloniser and impedes economic development. Writer Arundhati Roy likened the debate on imperialism to discussing the pros and cons of rape.
People are fleeing because they are poor and because there is no hope for a better life in their homeland. Europe owes these people a lot
The colonisers were obviously interested in the natural wealth they could exploit much more than they cared about the well-being of the indigenous population. In fact many an atrocity was committed against the African peoples, but we hardly speak about the damages inflicted on the various African states during colonial occupation. We rarely ever ask what compensation has been given. While speaking of humanitarianism, the most inhumane methods were used to exploit the acquired lands. Even though one of the major justifications for the colonisation of Africa was the suppression of the slave trade.
The scramble for Africa by the European powers becomes the scramble for Europe by the destitute.
People are fleeing because they are poor and because there is no hope for a better life in their homeland. Europe owes these people a lot.
When she spoke of Italian history, Kyenge also wanted to remind the Italians that their forefathers had also left their country to try and make a better life for themselves and their families. How different is today’s migrant from the great-grandfather who moved to the United States or Australia a hundred years ago looking for work in order to feed his large Italian family? The latter maybe had documents to show, but on a humanitarian level, the plight remains the same.
Kyenge was asked whether she thinks that Italy has been left on its own to deal with the issue of immigration and whether the lack of a European immigration policy is a problem. A question which we ask all the time over here. She replied thus:
“The fact that Italy is alone is down to the European legislation, which says that a citizen who arrives in Italy, for example, must ask for asylum in Italy. That’s what we have to change. If someone arrives in Italy they are in the Schengen area of free movement. That’s the issue we must work on, to resolve these problems with a different approach.”
To the question on what kind of approach she envisages, Kyenge answered: “Quite simply, to respect the Schengen area.”
There needs to be a co-ordination of reception policies across the EU. The accommodation of migrants must be shared: when migrants enter a country which is a member of Schengen, they enter the Schengen area. Member states must accept that the load should not be placed on the country where migrants land and submit their application as asylum seekers, but on all countries in the Schengen area.
Remembering how most European countries historically dealt with the people of Africa may be a good tool to remind the former of their obligations.
Helena Dalli is Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties.