Entry #24 - WALLS OF DIFFERENT KINDS

Unimaginable that still nowadays more than 65 countries still choose fences as a solution for their different problems with the other nations. Many countries claim that the attempt to protect themselves from terrorism, drugs and illegal immigrants is the argument why many barriers are being built worldwide. The ideology of segmented nations has been valid over the years and today is stronger than ever despite the lack of evidence of their effectiveness.

The Berlin Wall was a fence which separated the internal borders of Germany after the Second World War. It was raised due to the ideological differences by the Eastern bloc which was Soviet-dominated and it alleged to attempt to protect its population from fascist elements that conspired to avoid the popular will to build a socialist state in East Germany. Its construction caused many atrocities and many deaths. Its fall on the night of 9 November 1989, 30 years ago, marked the end of an era that humanity celebrated and which was not supposed to reoccur.

Countries like Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Turkey are all constructing border fences in a bid to keep out jihadist groups next door in Somalia, Iraq and Syria. Seven miles of barrier have already been erected along the border at Reyhanli town in Hatay province, a main point for smuggling and border-crossing from Syria. The fence in Turkey will eventually stretch for 28 miles along a key stretch of its border with Syria. But the Turkish wall pales into insignificance when compared to the multi-layered fence which will one day stretch 600 miles from Jordan to Kuwait along the border of Saudi with Iraq, a line of defence against ISIS.

In spite of the aggressive symbolism, there is no clear proof that walls are truly effective. What all these walls erected in the world have in common is that their main function is theatre or illusion. They provide a sense of security more than real security. There is evidence that refugees and immigrants still find their way in despite the enormous fences at borders. Nevertheless walls’ supporters claim that a few leaks are better than a flood of immigrants.