The Henley Passport Index has updated their rankings of world passports based on global mobility, with Singapore now ranking first and Japan in a seven-way tie for third. The article highlights the disparity between those with “powerful” passports and those from lower-ranked countries, showing how circumstances of birth can significantly affect individuals’ lives and opportunities. A glaring example of this disparity can be seen in two separate incidents off the Greek coast, involving migrants and tourists. Lastly, the article illustrates the generational gap between migrant laborers and their progeny who, having inherited the passport privileges, have distanced themselves from their origins.
Key Points:
- The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on global mobility, demonstrating a significant difference in the quality of life and opportunities available to individuals depending on their birth geography or ancestry.
- Despite being among the countries with the most powerful passports, Japan has a notorious difficulty with the inclusion of migrants, sharing characteristics with Scandinavian countries that also have high-ranking passports.
- Two incidents in Greece, one involving a tragic migrant boat accident and another a wildfire affecting tourists, underline the disparity in treatment between individuals from high and low-ranked passport countries.
- Adventure tourism in dangerous migration routes, such as the Darien Gap, highlights the stark contrast between those with the privilege of travel for thrill and those risking their lives in search of better opportunities.
- A generational gap exists between migrant laborers, who endured hardships to improve their family’s prospects, and their children and grandchildren, who, benefiting from the passport privileges earned by their predecessors, have little connection to their ancestral homeland.
Source: https://thebaffler.com/alienated/passports-and-power-zakaria?ref=thebrowser.com
