Perilous Predictions
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The future does not look too bright for either Germany nor the Syrian migrants attempting to find asylum in the nation. There are logistical difficulties from both ends of the issue that have turned a once impressive policy of tolerance into a situation where neither side can win. The number of refugees seeking entrance to European nations, especially Germany, is increasing at an astonishing rate. There also seems to be no end in sight for the ongoing crisis in Syria. The only way this scenario can still be saved is if Germany steps up its registration process and swings the popular sentiment towards one more accepting of the Syrians.
Both Germany and the Syrian migrants entering the nation will run into a myriad a problems in the future months and years to come. Germany’s economics minister, Gerd Muller, has warned of an influx of around 8-10 million new Syrian refugees in the coming years. This massive number will mainly fall on the shoulders of Germany, as it currently has the most open policy in the EU. He has also said that the process of refugee inflow is largely irreversible. Yet, Germany’s policy has begun to incorporate a lot of actions surrounding deportation of the Syrians. They are planning to make the process of deportations easier, including that of asylum seekers. This darkens the future of Syrian migrants trying to find safety in Germany, where they now run the risk of being sent back to the violence-ridden area they came from. Germany is also passing laws that could restrict Syrians currently residing in Germany from reuniting with their families. This also creates a bleak future in the eyes of the refugees, for even if Syrians successfully enter the nation, there is no guarantee their families will have the same luck. If Germany’s migrant laws become stricter, which is the path they seem to be taking, the life of a Syrian refugee will only become harder. As for Germany as a country itself, there also lies a complicated future. The nation is already struggling with gathering the resources needed to house all the refugees. With only more and more entering the country, this process will become increasingly difficult. Germany must revamp its processes to be more efficient and allocate more sources to the issue of refugees. German citizens are also becoming more hostile to Syrians, and this problem see signs of danger for mass of incoming refugees in the next years. All in all, the issues Germany is dealing with today will only become more enhanced and complex as the influx of Syrian refugees grows.
However, one could also have an optimistic outlook on the future of Germany and the Syrian refugees. There are several success stories of refugees who have made it inside the nation. They work in several employment areas across the board, including hospitals, farms, and schools. Having such a diverse population could add tremendously to Germany as a nation. The country has already survived thus far with the enormous amount of refugees it has let across borders. In retrospect, everything could have gone a lot worse after Merkel’s initial announcement of open borders. There are definitely positive takeaways from the whole process. Yet, the upcoming issues and growing tensions could overshadow this idealistic perspective. Merkel has gone back a bit on her initial policy with her new decisions to tighten caps and open up the prospect of deportation. Also, the citizens are much less welcoming than they were in the first few weeks of Germany’s new acceptance of refugees. Germans are becoming more hostile and critical of the way their nation is handling the issue. It seems most likely that these negative sentiments will grow larger than the positive aspects within the upcoming years.
Overall, Germany’s future, as well as that of the Syrian refugees, has a chance of going either way. The new influx of Syrians could better both the lives of those escaping the violence of Syria and the citizens of the country they will enter. However, if the issues we see today are not resolved or pacified, both those in the process of refugees entering the nation, resources needed to house the refugees and keep them in good health, and the citizens’ perspective overall, then there exists bleak future for all parties involved.
Sources:
https://www.rt.com/news/328692-refugees-future-europe-germany/
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35617232
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/opinion/germany-refugee-nation.html?ref=oembed&_r=0
