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I would like to approach this topic with an optimistic mindset, as I rather be an optimist than worry about a plethora of things I can do very little or nothing about (but I don't know how far I can maintain an optimistic outlook, but let's begin).
Before I delve deeper into the topic in question, I want to present my opinion on the closed border issue (Note: It is simply my opinion and I may be wrong).
The Need for Borders
While borders in countries today serve different useful purposes, most often that none, the need for borders over centuries and as history may have it, has been closely and strongly linked to conflicts.
When two parties overtime believe they are not mutually compatible any more, they build boundaries, fences and borders to separate themselves, and clearly define the scope of one's operations/activities.
Definitely, as humans we need to know where we should start and stop, basically, our freedom isn't absolute. However, borders unlike other kinds of boundaries are highly divisive, they have historical connotations to them, think about the North and South Korean borders. National borders have also been a sign of supremacy, as naturally, people from low and middle income countries tend to move to high income countries for greener pastures.
Borders and Human Psychology
Another thing about national borders are there link to our human psychology. You know how people tend to be curious for something they are not seeing or they are yet to experience. This same curiousity is the principle behind wrapping gifts, and blind folding people to reveal something to them later.
So, see borders as a national wrap. Because people are outside, they are curious as to what is inside. Countries now naturally exploit this, they make you think there's something very precious in their country by tightening the borders (aka, border control). The more difficult to enter, the more curious we tend to become (case in point, Mexico and the United States of America).
Most people end up finally entering the country of their dreams to discover that there's nothing in it for them, so they end up heartbroken and disappointed, and sometimes, they simply had to return to their home country.
In an Ideal World
An ideal world is one of equality, one in which everyone has somewhat equal access to all they need to survive and thrive, a world of love, peace, and unity, a world we all have dreamt of and funny though, we keep dreaming of, a world in which everyone knows the right things to do and the right time to do it, in such a world a national border would be unnecessary.
You know, the thing about boundaries in general and national borders is that they are used to divide the world, and within continents, they are used to divide nations, and within nations, they are used to divide people by state of origins, within these states they are used to divide people based on local governments, clans and villages, and even families. The inherent nature of borders and the inherent purpose of borders are to divide.
Definitely, they serve key administrative aims and purposes, but trust me there are a hundred and one other ways same administrative functions can be fulfilled other than a divisive fragmentation.
So, in an ideal world, removing all the borders, to make the world's map look plain, would not result in any imbalance or chaos.
Being Realistic
We leave in a not so ideal world, thus, I have to be realistic here, though I prefer being optimistic, being realistic would imply questioning my optimism and be true to myself.
In the world we leave in, opening borders would create a huge mess in some high and middle income countries as people would naturally move to these countries.
To understand how bad this will be, think about a popular city in your country, for example, in Nigeria, some key cities include Port Harcourt, Lagos, and others. One remarkable feature of cities is that they are grossly overpopulated while towns and villages drain out to feed city populations.
This is not changing soon, and this kind of situation prevails, for among other reasons, because, there is unrestricted movement of people within states and cities, thus, people naturally move to cities to find greener pastures. Thus, creating a population imbalance. Interestingly, more than half the population of the world live in cities, and removing restrictions in borders would result in a similar situation - more than half of the world population would simply move to more prosperous countries and creating a gross population imbalance, which would be a very bad thing for the unideal world we live in.
So, I think, borders should be left as they are, and maybe, more border control be enforced. But I still wonder, how about those locked outside borders, suffering just because they needed better lives? Border control and issues surround borders are just naturally highly debatable and I would at this point leave it to experts to keep deliberating.
The Takeaway
In an ideal world, borders wouldn't exist; but in our less than ideal world today, border control is a necessity, but still highly debatable. I am optimistic that soon, the ideal world we desire would come, but till then, I'll rather leave border management to experts 😃🤣.
I remain @Beautiefair
