This year, the world has seen millions of refugees fleeing war and persecution, many from Syria. Turkey is the largest host country with over 2.7 million Syrian refugees. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has been investigating how brands are taking steps to protect the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who are working […]
The ethics of British intervention in Syria
On Wednesday, the House of Commons debated for ten hours about whether the UK should intervene in Syria against ISIS. Here James Pattison explores the ethics of their decision. Numerous MPs stood up and offered their impassioned views. But most of these were oddly unstructured and badly reasoned, and failed to take into account glaringly […]
The EU’s Turkey Conundrum
Europe’s refugee crisis continues. The EU’s deal with Turkey may provide humanitarian assistance, respite for European leaders and a better dialogue with Turkey, argues Mustafa Cirakli. Turkey-EU membership talks formally began in 2005, but there has been little progress. In part this is because of opposition from several ‘core’ member states, notably France and Germany. […]
Do hard times increase concerns about immigration?
Dr Ingrid Storm argues that economic concerns about immigration are related to financial insecurity. In the wake of the Syrian refugee crisis immigration is high on the political agenda throughout Europe, sharply dividing public opinion. Anti-immigration rhetoric often paints a picture of immigrants as “stealing jobs” or “scrounging” on the welfare system, arguments that can […]
The oldest war crime in the book?
Last Friday, October 3, the US airforce bombed a hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz. Bertrand Taithe says such actions are likely to be counter-productive in the long run. The attack in Kunduz destroyed the hospital and killed 12 Médecins sans Frontières staff and about 10 of their patients. The US military soon recognized their responsibility for […]
Intervening in conflicts
Should governments send weapons or troops to conflicts in other countries? Professor James Pattison compares the ethics of supplying arms with militarily intervention. Western states are less likely to wage major wars in the future. This is for (at least) four reasons. First, despite ongoing conflicts, the world is generally more peaceful. Second, the US’s […]
Migration and public health
Matteo Dembech of the World Health Organisation (WHO) blogs on how WHO is working to improve the health of migrants, including those trying to cross the Mediterranean this summer and how Governments in the EU can help. Seventy-three million migrants are estimated to live in the WHO European Region. Since 2011, particularly those countries closest […]