Chapter 12: Globalism, Nationalism, and Marginalized Communities

12.3: Migration, National Borders, and Human Security

People have always been on the move, seeking safety, opportunity, or a better life. Whether driven by war, economic hardship, or environmental disasters, migration has shaped human history and continues to influence global politics. However, the movement of people across borders is often met with resistance, as governments struggle to balance national security with human rights. While some countries welcome migrants and asylum seekers, others adopt restrictive policies that limit access to refuge and protection. The film Children of Men presents a dystopian vision of what happens when migration is treated purely as a threat, depicting a Britain that has shut its borders, criminalized refugees, and turned to militarized enforcement. The film’s themes echo real-world debates about immigration policies, asylum rights, and the treatment of stateless individuals. By exploring these issues, we can better understand how migration intersects with national borders and human security, shaping the experiences of marginalized communities worldwide.

People move across borders for many reasons, from escaping violence to seeking better economic opportunities. Migration is a fundamental aspect of human history, but it is also one of the most politically charged issues today. Who is moving and where are they moving to? Where are they moving from? You can check out many of the details in the United Nations World Migration Report. In Children of Men, Britain has responded to a global crisis by sealing its borders and violently expelling migrants, portraying them as a threat rather than as individuals in need of help. This reflects real-world policies in many countries, where immigration is often framed as a security risk rather than a humanitarian concern. For example, in the United States, debates over immigration policies have intensified in recent years, with efforts to restrict border crossings and limit asylum claims. Meanwhile, climate change is creating new waves of migration, as rising sea levels and extreme weather force communities to relocate. As migration patterns shift, governments must decide whether to build barriers or create pathways for safe and legal migration. The choices they make directly impact the fate of asylum seekers, who often find themselves in legal limbo while awaiting protection.

Fleeing one’s home is never an easy decision, and for many asylum seekers, the journey to safety is fraught with danger and uncertainty. Unlike migrants who move for economic reasons, asylum seekers are individuals who flee persecution, war, or violence and seek refuge in another country. However, their status is not immediately recognized, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, detention, or deportation. In Children of Men, refugees are treated as criminals rather than as people in need of protection, reflecting real-world challenges faced by asylum seekers today. For instance, in the European Union, asylum seekers often endure long waiting periods in overcrowded camps, facing harsh conditions while their cases are processed. Countries like Greece and Italy, which receive a high number of asylum applications, have struggled to provide adequate resources, leading to human rights concerns. Meanwhile, wealthier nations sometimes implement policies to limit asylum claims, as seen in Australia’s offshore detention system, where asylum seekers are sent to remote islands rather than being allowed entry. The difficulty of securing asylum has contributed to the rise of Fortress Europe, a term describing the increasingly restrictive immigration policies of European nations.

The idea of a borderless world may seem appealing to some, but for many governments, the priority is keeping people out. Fortress Europe refers to the strict border control measures adopted by European countries to deter migration, often at the cost of human security. In Children of Men, Britain takes an extreme approach, completely shutting its doors to outsiders and treating migrants as enemies of the state. In reality, European nations have implemented a variety of deterrence measures, from border walls to agreements with third-party countries to stop migrants before they reach European soil. The EU-Turkey deal, for example, allows Turkey to prevent asylum seekers from crossing into Greece, while Mediterranean patrols push back boats carrying migrants from Africa. These policies have sparked criticism from human rights organizations, which argue that they violate international laws protecting refugees. By prioritizing border control over humanitarian responsibility, Fortress Europe has turned migration into a security issue rather than a human rights concern. For those who cannot return home but are denied entry elsewhere, the result is often statelessness—a condition that leaves people without legal recognition or rights.

Lacking citizenship in any country is one of the most severe forms of marginalization. Stateless individuals have no legal identity, which means they cannot vote, work legally, or access essential services like healthcare and education. In Children of Men, refugees and migrants are portrayed as people without rights, detained and dehumanized by the state. This reflects the real-world struggles of stateless populations, such as the Rohingya in Myanmar, who have been denied citizenship and forced into refugee camps with no clear path to legal recognition. Statelessness can also result from war, displacement, or discriminatory laws that prevent certain ethnic or religious groups from obtaining citizenship. In some cases, children are born stateless, particularly in countries that do not grant citizenship based on birthright. Without legal status, stateless individuals are at constant risk of exploitation, detention, or deportation. Governments that refuse to address statelessness contribute to cycles of poverty and exclusion, forcing people into desperate situations where crossing borders illegally may seem like the only option. In response, many states have turned to border militarization as a way to prevent unauthorized migration, often at great human cost.

Barbed wire, armed patrols, and surveillance drones have become common sights along many national borders. Border militarization is the use of military or heavily armed forces to control migration, often justified as a national security measure. In Children of Men, Britain has turned its borders into war zones, using soldiers and police to round up migrants and place them in detention camps. This dystopian imagery is not far from reality—countries like the United States, Hungary, and Israel have increasingly militarized their borders, deploying troops and high-tech surveillance to deter migration. The U.S.-Mexico border, for example, has seen a dramatic increase in border patrol presence, along with policies like family separations and mass deportations. Similarly, European nations have funded border security initiatives in North Africa, outsourcing migration control to countries with questionable human rights records. The consequences of border militarization are severe, often leading to human rights violations, increased migrant deaths, and tensions between neighboring countries. While governments argue that militarized borders protect national sovereignty, they also raise ethical questions about how far states should go in restricting human mobility. As seen in Children of Men, when security concerns outweigh humanitarian considerations, the result is a world where borders become walls and people in need are treated as threats.

The politics of migration, borders, and human security reveal fundamental questions about how societies define belonging and exclusion. In Children of Men, Britain’s extreme policies show the dangers of prioritizing security over human dignity, offering a stark warning about what happens when borders become instruments of oppression. In reality, migration is not just a challenge—it is an opportunity for societies to grow, adapt, and embrace diversity. However, the global response to migration often reflects fear rather than compassion, leading to restrictive asylum policies, the rise of Fortress Europe, and the expansion of border militarization. Stateless individuals, caught in the margins of the international system, continue to struggle for recognition, while asylum seekers face increasing obstacles in their search for safety. The film serves as a reminder that migration is not just about movement—it is about people, their rights, and their place in the world. As nations navigate these complex issues, the challenge remains: how can governments balance security concerns with the fundamental principles of human rights and dignity?