Decade After Merkel’s Refugee Gamble

On August 31, 2015, Europe was on the verge of a refugee crisis unlike any seen since the end of World War II. Growing numbers of refugees were heading toward Northern Europe along the “Balkan route,” and there was no consensus on how to deal with the situation. It was into this void, and on this day, that German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a speech that would help define her political career. Speaking to the German people, she uttered a phrase that was a call to action: “Wirhaben so vieles geschafft — wir schaffen das.”

These words, which translate into English as “We have done so much — we can do this,” epitomized the chancellor’s hope that Germany, and possibly the European Union, could rise to the occasion and provide shelter to a growing number of asylum seekers. Within a matter of days, tens of thousands of refugees would begin arriving in Europe every day. This mass migration would disrupt the politics of the EU and would rapidly give Merkel’s words a life of their own on a rapidly polarizing continent.

JR

About the Author

Justin Roy

Justin Roy has worked with humanitarian and international development organizations and holds a master’s in history from the University of San Diego. His writing has appeared in Providence, the Christian Post, The Federalist, and the National Interest.

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On August 31, 2015, Europe was on the verge of a refugee crisis unlike any seen since the end of World War II. Growing numbers of refugees were heading toward Northern Europe along the “Balkan route,” and there was no consensus on how to deal with the situation. It was into this void, and on this day, that German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a speech that would help define her political career. Speaking to the German people, she uttered a phrase that was a call to action: “Wirhaben so vieles geschafft — wir schaffen das.”

These words, which translate into English as “We have done so much — we can do this,” epitomized the chancellor’s hope that Germany, and possibly the European Union, could rise to the occasion and provide shelter to a growing number of asylum seekers. Within a matter of days, tens of thousands of refugees would begin arriving in Europe every day. This mass migration would disrupt the politics of the EU and would rapidly give Merkel’s words a life of their own on a rapidly polarizing continent.

JR

About the Author

Justin Roy

Justin Roy has worked with humanitarian and international development organizations and holds a master’s in history from the University of San Diego. His writing has appeared in Providence, the Christian Post, The Federalist, and the National Interest.