Immigration Discourse as a Distraction from Institutional Failures
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21847/2411-3093.635Keywords:
Immigration, institutional dysfunction, scapegoat mechanism, mimetic theory, economic stagnation, social stagnation, institutional innovation, social philosophyAbstract
This paper examines how the intense focus on immigration in Western societies serves as a distraction from more fundamental institutional failures across various sectors. Through a multi-faceted qualitative approach combining critical discourse analysis, comparative institutional analysis, and philosophical inquiry, we investigate the rhetoric surrounding immigration and its purported impacts. Our findings reveal that immigration discourse often functions as a smokescreen, obscuring systemic issues such as economic stagnation, housing crises, healthcare inefficiencies, and educational shortcomings. By applying theoretical frameworks from thinkers like Girard, Habermas, and Žižek, we demonstrate that the scapegoating of immigrants is a complex societal mechanism allowing for the displacement of anxieties stemming from institutional dysfunction. The research highlights the contrast between stagnation in traditional sectors and the dynamism of the technology industry, underscoring the need for comprehensive institutional reform. We argue for reframing public discourse away from divisive immigration debates and towards addressing root causes of social and economic challenges. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of contemporary societal issues and calls for a shift in focus towards meaningful institutional reform to create more efficient, institutions capable of addressing 21st-century challenges.
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