The issue in this instance is whether borders should be completely opened up to immigration. This is a major issue because many things are at stake. For one, the lives and opportunities of immigrants happen to be at stake. These are people who may want to enter the nation in order to access new opportunities or get away from poverty. Fascism would suggest that open borders are a big “no” because they would harm the nationalist nature of a country. This is an ideology that seeks through authoritarian means to enforce ultra-nationalism and the oppression of people who might rise up against it (Heywood, 2003, p. 199). This means, in short, that the flood of people across an open border would make a country more diverse, and in the mind of a fascist, less safe, as well. This has a major impact on the concept of cultural identity.
The arguments in favor of open borders have to do with humanitarian concerns. They suggest that the arbitrary lines drawn by borders just tend to isolate a country and also ensure that people will have to live under dire constraints in their own nations. It would be better, these people note, to allow them to come in. However, the opposing views suggest that immigrants can be dangerous and violent. It is hard to know who is coming into the country, and within a mass of people, there are likely to be many who are not fit for entry. Beyond that, according to the fascist view, this does away with the regimentation of society. Fascists believe in the overwhelming power of an oppressive authoritarian. They do not want people to enter the country because this can throw that into disarray by challenging the power of the person in charge. In addition, fascists raise racist arguments all the time about the nature of open borders. What they suggest is that having open borders will at some point cause a society to lose some of its cultural identity, which is not acceptable to these people. They very much prefer it to remain white or to have the dominant race be in control.
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The arguments of fascists on immigration are difficult to agree with. They suggest that there is no moral responsibility of one country to have borders that allow people in. Of course, they are right on some level that fully open borders would lead to chaos, and this is not something that they would want. However, their arguments in regard to nationalism are wrong and based in racial animus. They suggest that there is something desirable about having a country in which there is a dominant, nationalist theme going on. They suggest, too, that by allowing in immigrants, the country is going to be overrun and that some notion of a white identity is going to be missing. This is wrong because it tends to stereotype people while also affirming white supremacy and other oppressive norms. Other ideologies see this issue in various ways. They see borders as being necessary for ensuring the sovereignty of a nation, but they also note that it is critical to not just have borders. One must also have some compassion and some understanding that the people coming to a country are doing so for a reason. Likewise, other ideologies note that the people coming in as immigrants are often likely to help build up the strength of a nation down the road and down the line. These ideologies are more in line with what I believe about how people should be viewed and what I believe about how countries should choose to handle the difficult questions surrounding borders and immigration in America.
- Heywood, A. (2003). Political Ideologies: An Introduction Palgrave Macmillan.
