The unmaking of political confidence games concerning illegal immigration through a sustainable practice formula emphasizing on circular economy

The more we progress in 2018, more and more tensions arise in Europe, both on national and international level. Based on the ongoing political squabbling on how to handle the influx of illegal immigrants, I do not expect a long-term sustainable solution just yet. The general goodwill among European member states on receiving and assimilate immigrants into their societies is diminishing fast, already resulting in more and more right wing governments with a firm anti-immigration policy. I do not consider the latest initiatives at the latest European summit as anything but quick fixes, mostly done to calm their voters growing distrust in the incapacity of their political peers.

I am aware that a growing number of specialists in fact argue that stimulating local economies would in fact only increase (illegal) immigration. Although I can relate to some of the arguments given, I remain a firm opponent against it due to one realization.

With the current status-quo, besides an unknown number of people migrating into your societies, you import also a way of thinking not based on contributing economically to a society (which might actually be profitable) but on profiting of the social apparatus. It is directed by the survival of one self and direct peers directed by cultural contexts, which I deem not applicable with Western values, further complicating a possible integration process into Western society.

So, how to combine all of these developments in general, in Africa and in Europe in particular, into one cohesive strategy constituting multiple layers, benefiting all participants, with all of its obstacles and interests? This is not a “hell, let’s aim for the stars and see what happens” kind of thinking, but hopefully an understandable value chain of which I hope it at least starts further strategic thinking in this direction. For that, I made a small drawing of these layers to form a cohesive circle based on one shared goal: fighting illegal immigration. This is just a first draft of this model, and although many categories could in fact be applicable in several layers, I deliberately choose to keep them where they are. I will try to explain why in the next header.

Since multiple articles can be spend on every single requirement, I choose only to give short explanations for contextual awareness in the circle.

Common goal: fighting illegal immigration

This is where it all boils down to. Without a common goal, all initiatives are doomed to fail before even starting. For the local situation, a steady number of immigration limits the amount of people to work their economies, putting a strain on the limited amount of people left to conduct more and more duties to keep the economic machine going. For the global situation (or European situation since those developments are more known to me), it puts a strain on national resources and on the social cohesive structure of society, causing parallel societies within the European nation states.

Key Issues

Although many might see things differently, my definition of key issues are based on the (in my view) primary needs of people: waste collecting, hygiene, water and food. The advantage is that these present essential human needs transcending any political or religious restriction since these are applicable to all. Nonetheless, especially with these crucial key theme issues, a local political backing is essential for further local funding and/or support in other forms, realizing the (economic) advantages of strengthening these sectors on local economy.

Local requirements

The actual field in which any possible initiative takes place is “sur place”. To maximize your effect one must always be aware that without a local demand-driven need (I described this in an earlier article) you are doomed to fail. Yet, when this is present, there are many factors to take into account:

Circular approach: The most effective way in improving a value chain on sectoral scale is the circular approach. This means that you keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting multiple uses of them while you pass them on from one phase to another (the waste pilot Niger is such an example). Then you regenerate them into new materials until they have reached their service, and then the same resources harvested in the same manner based on the circular economy principle are replacing them.

Municipalities: large cities are usually organized in separate city districts. Depending on the key theme issue (in some cases a piece of land to conduct your pilot on is required) municipalities are perfect incubators to conduct a pilot in. They provide a sufficient surface to deduce common findings on specific local conditions.

Local expertise: to ensure a continuous working process and to anticipate quickly on changes, it is imperative to establish a good working relationship with a local expert capable of coordinating the technical side of the initiative. This only improves the willingness of local participants, giving a better chance of providing results.

Financial support: to continue with a successful idea into the next phase of execution, often-necessary investments are then needed for the purchase of materials (or the acquisition of a temporary larger amount of personnel). A thorough report on local developments is necessary to guarantee a consideration of financial support of third parties (whether it be foundations or other donors).

European / Global requirements

This is where it starts to become interesting, not in the least since I will dwell in a gray area of multilateral agreements already made, but at the same time I developed a healthy cynical stance against the ongoing debates needed to execute effective economic stimulation policies. Therefore, this part is not “filled” with practical solutions but just my observations. I will start by explaining the categories, but I will end with a rather dark notion on current European policy battling unemployment in developing countries.

Common goal through necessity: this is a more difficult notion than meets the eye. The ongoing struggle within nation states and on European level on achieving consensus on how to tackle the immigration problem (just look at the recent internal problems Chancellor Merkel experienced with her political ally Seehofer) is bound to stay for a while. However, in the meantime developments do not wait for the political class to solve their own issues. A common goal is therefore only achievable through a common notion of necessity. Namely, the tackling of illegal immigration not by keeping the status-quo of late, but by creating economic prosperity in (African) nations all around.

Involvement of businesses: again, a challenging prospect. The difference of opinions and approaches between public and private sectors, on national levels alone even, means that a ravine stands between the two. The political versus the entrepreneurial. So how to build bridges between then? Use entrepreneurs and experts, within the public framework of existing European networks. Use the best of both worlds. Involve business with international ambitions, preferably those whom already have established a solid base in the countries involved.

Transparency in sharing knowledge: knowledge is the only thing that grows when you share it. There are many capable and willing institutions all around Europe, using their extensive framework of expertise base on years of education and experience. Create international cooperation based on two or three programs max (since more become too large and bureaucratic that in fact the structure will work against itself) and regularly share your findings to raise awareness.

Political stability, transcend Europhile / populist grievances: the Europhiles within the European Union like to present the EU as the new “United States of Europe”. However, an institution with goals which transcends being an economic power block, and aspires to also have political and military might, changes from wanting to be just an institution to a wanna-be state, conflicting with the historical and practical conditions in which nation-states were formed. The “four theories of government” is worth reading on this issue, especially the Force Theory. This entails that an artificial created “ state” like the European Union is based on the premise that a small group of people (your elites so you will) claims control over a large area and forcing everyone in that area to submit to their (in this case, European) rule.

This is the main reason of friction between Europhiles and populists. One considers the EU as a whole, while the other considers their own sovereign nation as leading, causing further distrust and possible breaking points in enabling international development policies and in particular strengthening European alliances (Germany especially now is a political frying pan able to calm things down or to destroy the fragile European solidarity). As a countermeasure, there is always talk of a new approach, a renewal of their behavior and a new effective plan to legitimize the existence of new policies, but the truth of the matter is that it fails.

That is, in their current form. The Ponzi scheme at its finest, since everyone is involved in especially securing their own legitimacy and portraying strong trusting statements, spending millions of taxpayers money, while people in fact have little idea how their money is actually being spend, even with the best “evaluation tools” at their disposal. It leads to squabbling, tension (and if the immigration situation does not stop within the next ten years, inevitable revolution) and most important of all: to nothing. Measures taken need to be executed locally first, then with international business partners, and then with international political backing. Only then, a European Union might decide to have a supporting role. Only then cultural and political grievances can be overcome, in a way which shows effectiveness beyond your own worldview or comfort zone. Show an effective result. Get outside the box of politically correct ideas, because the reality is that people are tired of hearing these entitled statements without any practical solution to change, whether the execution of it fails or not.

Niger: an example of results

As we speak, we have reached the end of the pilot program, which was officially underway since the beginning of the year. I explained its huge potential in earlier articles, introducing a circular processing method to improve the waste value chain in Niamey and as a result, having created a new fertilizer product for the agri-and horticulture sector in Niger (please read my articles explaining this with more detail on my LinkedIn-feed). This self-produced fertilizer could replace the expensive investment of the government to import fertilizer from abroad. The definite results are slowly but surely coming in. In short: we are on the brink of a unique initiative, the first demonstration in Niger of creating compost through organic waste by natural degradation. An exploration of local market options has shown that this new product is already in high demand. The pilot stands for a way of thinking necessary in creating and executing an international business initiative focused on creating jobs and new business opportunities “sur place”.

The positive news is that this initiative already has shown itself, through a meticulous and time-consuming process of start to finish of more than three years, to be a sustainable practical formula, applicable in similar regions in the northern ring of Africa (Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Sudan for example).

My gut feeling? Thousands of people can potentially profit from this initiative, whether it be farmers using the newly constructed compost for their lands, city districts seeing a significant reduction of their waste, or the unemployed women and youth able to find work through the creation of jobs, let alone if you consider the benefits of upscaling the initiative in other countries. However, any future step in exploring the upscaling of this initiative needs meticulous examination again before undertaking action.

A challenging task lies ahead of us. Nevertheless, one that might leave a lasting imprint on one of the main key issues today in Niger, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Lets. Get. To. Work.