Gary Younge’s article (Opinion, 16 October) supporting open borders is misguided. He claims migration across open borders occurred through history. However, apart from migration as part of conquest, even international tourism was rare – so that Marco Polo was considered remarkable. Younge then contrasts today’s free movement of capital with restriction on free movement of labour. Restrictions on capital movement have reduced in recent decades, as capitalists who have outgrown their national homes have increasingly dominated the world. These same forces also want free movement of labour. This has been resisted, as it clearly leads to the globalisation of poverty.
While open borders are a nice ideal, in the current context those who think of themselves as “left” who prioritise open borders, are supporting international capital’s globalisation of poverty. When they denigrate the resistance to this global capitalist project, displayed by disadvantaged people throughout the developed world, they are driving it into the arms of the far right.
David Kault
Alligator Creek, Queensland, Australia
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