Might is right…..down a rabbit hole
We previously covered in this space the extent to which the ‘rules based international order’ was and is a myth and flouted by ‘the West’. Recent events have further emphasised how rampant militarism – on the part of that very same ‘West’ with its supposed values – is dangerously out of control; think of Israeli and USA attacks on Iran, or NATO members committing to spending 5% of GDP on arms, armies and related ‘security’, an appalling waste which will cost humanity massively in a variety of ways. https://innatenonviolence.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Cake-anti-militarist.pdf The sycophancy shown by Mark Rutte, head of NATO, congratulating Donald Trump after the USA bombed Iran beggars belief; there is no evidence Iran was about to get nuclear weapons (as even US ‘Intelligence’ attested) whereas the USA and Israel already have them. The lesson for many from this whole story is that if you want to avoid being bombed by the USA or Israel then you should develop nuclear weapons as fast as you can.
There are so many current factors in the world pointing to ‘danger’ that it is difficult to know where to begin. NATO countries are not, needless to say, committing 5% of GDP on green energy and avoiding catastrophic climate heating. Having promoted the idea of a Russian bogey man they are ramping up a militaristic response. Such military based ‘security’ is a total misnomer; it leads to ramping up an arms race and increased insecurity, at best, and at worst a possible culmination in war. Of course there are dangers from Russia, but the idea that Russia, China or Iran are the only dangers in the world flies in the face of what ‘the West’ is doing; it is the USA and the West that are more likely than anyone to be undertaking military actions. And ‘Western’ military actions this century in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya have caused endless misery and instability – when will they ever learn?
In the Cold War between the USSR and ‘the West’, lies were told about an ‘arms gap’ and Russia’s military capabilities. This was used to justify further rearmament, especially by the USA. Something similar is happening today. Mark Rutte himself has pointed out that Russia’s economy is 25 times smaller than NATO member countries. The Russian economy may be on a ‘war footing’, and that may suit Putin politically, but it is difficult to sustain in the long term, even in a country which can, to date, politically sustain mass casualties. Russian deaths in the Ukraine war could be 250,000 with up to a million total casualties; Ukrainian figures could be up to 100,000 people killed and 400,000 total casualties – but accurate figures are almost impossible to come by.
Real security, human security, comes from dealing with health and wellbeing issues https://innatenonviolence.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Human-security.pdf And there are no greater security issues than dealing with global heating and world poverty. For analysis of perceived ‘threats’, in this case in relation to France, see https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2025/who-threatening-who
Stepping back out of the militarist hole which Europe and ‘the West’ find themselves is difficult but achievable. The first point about being in a hole is to ‘stop digging’ – escalation of an arms race is in no one’s interest. Of course there are difficult decisions for Ukraine to make, and for Europe and the USA in relation to Ukraine, but continuing a stalemate war where Russia is gradually gaining ground is not an answer. Had the neutrality of Ukraine been guaranteed then we might not have been in this situation to begin with; militarist decisions have costs.
And effective Western backing, particularly by the USA but many EU states as well, of Israel as it engages in genocide against the people of Gaza is obscene. That hundreds of people have been killed simply trying to get food is an expression of the desperate situation Gazans are in, and Israel continues its general bombardment. The inhuman situation that exists in Gaza could be stopped by the USA tomorrow if it utilised its power and support for Israel for the good of all and not for its geopolitical ideology. And Europe’s failure to take any action is also reprehensible.
Migration as a fact of life
It would seem that, North and South of the border, we are into an era of periodic racist riots when someone originally from outside these shores has done, or is perceived to have done, something reprehensible. These riots are stoked by right wing anti-immigration activists or fanatics who are happy to use any excuse to attack migrants – no matter what their reason for ending up here or the role they play (e.g. fulfilling essential economic roles in society at all levels including in the health service). The most recent example of this phenomenon manifested itself most prominently in Ballymena where, without police action, migrants would likely have been burnt to death in their homes.
While there may be no figures to hand, there is no reason to suppose that the situation in Ireland is any different to the USA in regard to the level of crime committed by newcomers. In the USA that level is less than for those born in the country. However the crimes committed may be ones that are more visible, plus the colour of the person’s skin, may make illusions of migrant crime waves appear rampant. This is then exploited for racist and self-advancement reasons by rightwingers – including the current President of the USA.
We all come from somewhere else originally, at least our forebears did. The evolution of homo sapiens is complex but the most important migration on a worldwide basis is usually regarded as that out of Africa aeons ago, leaving Africans as the only people without Neanderthal DNA (and thus, if we were to follow racist thinking, the most advanced members of our species…). The Irish history of largely forced emigration – forced by colonialism and economic necessity – makes some on this island more aware of the realities of migration. But migration is essentially a natural phenomenon, ‘as natural as the wind’ https://innatenonviolence.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Migration_swallow.pdf
Migration to both jurisdictions in Ireland has been a hugely positive experience in general for both economic and cultural reasons. The idea that Ireland is ‘full’ is laughable for a whole variety of reasons – including comparison with population densities elsewhere and the role of migrants in the economy in a relatively rich part of the world with an ageing population. However much work is needed to show the benefits that migrants bring and to allow them to be integrated as far as they want; many sporting and cultural organisations, as well as ordinary people, are engaged in this.
Migration being a natural phenomenon does not mean it should not be regulated. However the best way to alleviate forced migration is to work for and towards an end to global heating, for economic justice worldwide and avoiding violent conflicts and war. Everything else, in trying to control migration, is tinkering with the issue. There will always be people who want to try pastures new and better their situation. But the considerable majority of people would rather stay in their home environment or country if circumstances permit. However, tragically, if global heating continues at the rate it is going then current levels of forced migration will be only a drop in the bucket compared to what is to come.
The role of governments in both jurisdictions in combatting racism needs partly to be through dealing with social deprivation and exclusion within the native population. Part of the seedbed of racism is the perception that migrants and asylum seekers are receiving privileged support from the state; this may be totally untrue but in areas of considerable social and economic need it can feel true, and be used by racists to stir up support. This is another reason why dealing with social need and poverty cannot and should not be ignored but receive the needed resources.