theglobeandmail.com
Alan Kurdi: A Decade After the Photo That Shocked the World
Ten years ago, the image of drowned Syrian toddler Alan Kurdi sparked global empathy and a Canadian refugee resettlement plan, but Canada's current approach to asylum has shifted.
- How has Canada's approach to refugees changed in the decade since Alan Kurdi's death?
- While initially marked by compassion, Canada's refugee policy has shifted towards restricting asylum. The government has announced plans to curb the number of temporary and permanent residents, frozen government-assisted refugee intake, and cut targets for privately sponsored refugees.
- What was the immediate impact of the Alan Kurdi photo on Canada's response to the Syrian refugee crisis?
- The photo of Alan Kurdi prompted immediate political responses, including an investigation into the rejection of his family's refugee application. It led to then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's election promise and subsequent plan to welcome 25,000 Syrian refugees.
- What are the long-term implications of this shift in Canada's refugee policy, considering the ongoing global displacement?
- The shift indicates a reduced willingness to accept refugees despite the rising number of displaced people worldwide. This trend mirrors similar hardening of stances in Europe, potentially leading to increased human suffering and a further erosion of international humanitarian efforts.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article uses the image of Alan Kurdi's death as a central framing device, emphasizing the emotional impact of the photo and its effect on Canadian policy. This framing, while effective in highlighting the human cost of the refugee crisis, potentially overshadows other aspects of the issue, such as the ongoing political and systemic challenges related to refugee resettlement. The article's focus on the emotional response to the photo may lead readers to focus on individual acts of empathy rather than on broader systemic solutions. For example, the headline emphasizes the emotional response, "The photo of Alan Kurdi's small, lifeless body on a beach made Canadians weep and open their wallets and their homes to Syrian refugees in the tens of thousands," rather than focusing on the policy changes implemented after the photo's publication.
Language Bias
The language used is largely neutral and objective, but the repeated emphasis on the emotional impact of the photo ("made Canadians weep," "stopped the hearts of the world") and the use of terms like "tragic quest" and "fateful decision" subtly frame the refugees' journey as inherently dramatic and emotionally charged. While these terms are not inherently biased, they might lead readers to view the refugees' situation with increased sympathy rather than from a more objective, policy-oriented perspective. A more neutral approach might replace "fateful decision" with "decision to take a risky boat journey" and "tragic quest" with "journey seeking safety".
Bias by Omission
While the article details the Canadian response to the photo, it omits discussion of criticisms of that response. Additionally, there is limited exploration of the perspectives of countries receiving large numbers of refugees or the challenges faced by those who were not able to resettle in Canada or other countries. The article's focus is primarily on Canada's response and the broader humanitarian crisis as viewed from a Canadian lens. This omission may lead to an incomplete understanding of the larger global issues surrounding the refugee crisis. The article's focus on Canada's reaction, while understandable given the context, also overlooks the varied reactions and challenges across the world.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic dichotomy between the initial outpouring of empathy and the current less generous approach to refugee resettlement. The narrative implies a decline in compassion following the initial response, but the complexities and nuances of policy changes, economic factors, and shifting public opinion are underrepresented. This oversimplified eitheor framing could mislead readers into believing that the change in policy is solely due to a decrease in public empathy, neglecting other contributing factors.
Gender Bias
The article does not exhibit significant gender bias. While Alan Kurdi's death is the central focus, the article includes details about his mother and aunt, acknowledging their roles in the family's journey and the Canadian sponsorship application. However, gender-neutral language could be used more consistently; for example, using "family members" instead of "boys' aunt" in certain contexts.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the ongoing refugee crisis, illustrating how displacement and lack of safe migration pathways exacerbate poverty and inequality among vulnerable populations. The challenges faced by refugees, including the rejection of Alan Kurdi's family's refugee application and the increasing restrictions on asylum, directly hinder their ability to escape poverty and build better lives. The rising anti-migrant sentiment also contributes to the marginalization and economic insecurity of refugee communities.