Solidarity for all? Europe's unequal treatment of refugees

Abstract

The willingness of European states and societies to welcome refugees varies, and not only due to differences between the host countries. Developments since the Spring 2022 escalation of the war in Ukraine reveal that the origin of refugees also influences what kind of help they can expect to receive. In liberal societies, solidarities that are guided by perceived similarity are in need of corrective measures. This is the only way to fulfil the universalist claim of refugee law, which applies to everyone affected by war and persecution.