The Good and Bad of Merkel
In January, a Bavarian mayor, frustrated with Germany’s asylum policy, sent a bus full of Syrian migrants to the office of Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, in Berlin. For many months, Merkel has encouraged Europe’s recognition of the migrants and made Germany’s acceptance of these people a priority. Though deeply concerned about Germany’s ability to balance the health of its economy with its expanding working population, I admire Merkel for standing up for her beliefs and establishing Germany as a strong supporter of human rights in a time when many Western countries have closed their borders.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has projected an additional 0.5 percent of GDP per annum of public spending in 2016 and 2017 to meet the initial needs of the migrants and to integrate them into the labor market. Merkel’s welcoming stance will not benefit the German people, as the Syrian migrants are estimated to take up more than 0.7 percent of the work force and may therefore displace the German job market. More importantly, the influx will not only change Germany’s demographics but also affect the long-term stability of the country. Without assimilation, the Syrian migrants may feel excluded from society and therefore be more inclined to pursue the ideology of terrorist groups in the Middle East. In fact, I would propose that quantity should matter just as much as quality when countries evaluate their asylum policies. Countries should ask themselves this question: Are we sacrificing our own economy, or even the long-term happiness of the refugees, when we loosen our restrictions?
Countries should ask themselves this question: Are we sacrificing our own economy, or even the long-term happiness of the refugees, when we loosen our restrictions?
Having explained the unsustainability of Merkel’s policies, one might expect me to attack her ad hominem. Yet, I believe that there is a reason Time magazine named her the Person of the Year in 2015. Merkel has been not just a proponent of human rights but a global leader in brokering peace. Her audacious act towards Syrian refugees was greeted with frowns across the European continent, but her resilience showed her loyalty to her beliefs. Merkel is not afraid of bearing Europe’s responsibilities and seeks to compromise with other nations when appropriate. She served as one of the main negotiators between Europe and President Vladimir Putin during the Crimean conflict and continues to uphold dialogue with Russia despite her dislike of Putin’s policies. Though Putin recognizes Merkel’s fear of dogs, he reportedly lets his Labrador loose around her. Merkel’s refusal to be swayed by dirty politics shows her dedication to both her character and the world around her.
Merkel has also transgressed the implicit rules created by German political society. As an Eastern German Protestant woman, she stands out amongst the largely male-dominated and Catholic German government with roots in West Germany. Refusing to be overwhelmed by societal barriers, she asserted herself as a powerful leader in Germany’s and Europe’s foreign relations. She united a party of many men and raised Germany to a new economic high. Merkel resembles Europe’s new Margaret Thatcher; her courage and aptitude should serve as a model not only for politicians but also for all women. It doesn’t matter how much you disagree with Merkel’s policies; what matters is that you recognize her strength as a person.