Nationalist concerns: Pope Francis's fears realised in two nations at the heart of the European Union
Image courtesy of Gabriella Claire Marino via Wikimedia, ©2020, some rights reserved.
During a time of crisis, a country’s first response is usually to look inwards. The coronavirus pandemic has caused physical lockdowns in many nations, but it has also aroused suspicion and fear of outsiders that has fueled nationalist movements worldwide.
Recently, the Catholic Church’s Pope Francis addressed this issue in an encyclical entitled “Fratelli Tutti”, or Brothers All. In this statement of papal authority, the leader of the Catholic Church spoke about the perils of tribalistic and nationalistic leanings, the internet’s lack of censorship and community, and unchecked xenophobia towards racial minorities and migrants, all exacerbated by the global pandemic. The statement was a clear wake-up call to members of the Catholic Church and the greater global community, warning readers that their actions must change for the common good.
Francis’s statement does not come as a surprise. There are overwhelming signs that, across the globe, nations are leaning to be more insular. While the examples of the United States election, police brutality protests, and Brexit immediately come to mind, more nations are facing growing movements to close borders and promote national interests above international cooperation.
In Germany, authorities have revealed far-right infiltration in the military and police forces. Investigations into group chats between security force members showed xenophobic and anti-Muslim statements, while neo-Nazi memorabilia were found in a military leader’s home. Government officials have been clear that xenophobic beliefs will not be tolerated, but the extent of the infiltration indicates that nationalist sentiments have always been brewing beneath the surface. That is what makes these new trends particularly terrifying. If not only regular citizens but high-ranking members of security forces believe so extremely in the cause of nationalism, it is clear that nationalist trends have been a long time in the making and will take time to shift.
Germany is often regarded as a safe haven for immigrants, opening its borders to many Syrian refugees and acting as a moral leader of sorts within the European Union. On top of that, its history of nationalism, particularly in World War II, has made the country one of the most skeptical of right-wing movements. Now, it serves as a concrete example of the Pope’s message, acting as a significant marker for the increase in nationalist sentiment over the past few years. What happens when one of the European Union’s beacons of inclusivity and tolerance burns out?
The same question can be asked of Belgium. The country has always contended with the distinct regional identities of the Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels-Capital regions. However, the recent death of a Black university student in Antwerp has sparked questions about Flemish outlooks.
Sanda Dia was a twenty-year-old student who died during the hazing process for a fraternity. While his death was initially ruled an accident, he was the only initiate who did not survive, and the only one who was Black. Investigations into the tragedy have revealed racist and white supremacist remarks shared in a group chat between frat members.
Dia’s untimely death may be seen as a sign of a more general movement within the region of Flanders. The Dutch-speaking and wealthier region of Belgium has been engaged with arguments for separation, some of which has involved anti-immigration rhetoric. Belgium, too, has its history with nationalism, particularly linked to its colonial presence in Africa in the nineteenth century. Over the summer, in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement, many statues of King Leopold II were removed from their pedestals due to the atrocities his government committed in the Congo. Much like in Germany, this process of atoning for the past has not gone down well with everyone.
The Pope is right that many nations must confront their bigotries and ethnocentrism. His statement on the dangers of hateful messages spread on the internet is definitely relevant and even more poignant when manifested in two of the most tolerant nations in the European Union. However, it is not enough to simply alert readers that this is happening. Leading by example is always the best way to create change, and the encyclical does not provide any concrete avenues to solve the problems it lists. So, what can be done to fight this growing wave of nationalist attitude?
In the past months, it has been difficult to consider other people’s points of view. Being in lockdown isolated humanity not just physically, but mentally, from the cross-cultural interactions that make us open-minded and welcoming to outside perspectives. It is easy to see this as a scary and, the constantly overused word, unprecedented time— in many ways it is. In other ways, the challenges of this year have presented more ways to learn and grow than ever before. The German and Flemish governments have not simply accepted their recent failings as part of a nationalist tide but are showing their commitment to uncovering the issue and doing battle with it. They show that underlying everything, there is a fundamental human desire to make connections, understand others, and do the right thing. Only when we stop rising to the challenge does it become too late.
