Anti-immigration backlash shows that the world isn't flat; it's walled

TWO visions have competed for influence during the globalisation era. One embraces the principles of free markets, free trade and free immigration, of creating a more peaceful and prosperous world in which conflicts between ethnic groups, religions and nations become passé.

The contrasting vision has promoted the values of identity, driving the political backlash against globalisation, calling for restrictions on the flow of capital, goods and people, and celebrating various forms of tribalism.

In the aftermath of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, New York Times columnist Tom Friedman envisioned in The World is Flat, the triumph of the first vision leading to the evolution of a borderless world. But now when religious wars are exploding in the Middle East and the refugee crisis is overtaking Europe, the world does not look flat anymore. In fact, European experts are now studying the barrier built by Israel to separate it from the Palestinians as they consider plans to stem the flow of migrants into Europ…