The End of an Empire? Migration crises, ecological crises, wars, and economic recessions in the 21st century

Abstract

The book "The Humanitarian Crisis in the 21st Century: Challenges of Liberal Democracies to Deal with the Humanitarian Crisis" delves into Western democracy and the international protection of human rights. Thousands of migrants, driven by war, terrorism, and political violence in their countries, seek asylum abroad. The current Western world is facing wars, ecological crises, economic recessions, and migration crises. This humanitarian crisis is further compounded by economic liberalism, which influences the actions of states, where private actors and NGOs step in to provide international protection, replacing a failing state. COVID-19, as a public health emergency of international concern, intensified feelings of hostility, distrust, and fear towards "strangers" or "foreigners," whether they are tourists or migrants. All of this leads experts to question to what extent liberal democracy is committed to overcoming the humanitarian crisis. The objective of the reviewed book is to define migration and ecological crises, as well as the positions of states in the intervention of human rights.