City Of Thorns Milena Belloni Summary

Yin and Yang

Milena Belloni’s article on Eritrean refugees and Ben Rawlence’s City of Thorns both address the issue of migration to Europe but from different perspectives. Belloni explores the factual and sociological process of migrating from Eritrea to Europe, particularly focusing on how individuals employ familial ties and social pressure to force relatively wealthier, but still disadvantaged and struggling family members in Europe to fund their voyages. Through careful research and interview, Belloni concludes that economic support from relatives already settled in Europe is “rarely voluntary” (Belloni, 47). Already relocated family members ultimately contribute to the passage fees after “tough negotiations” with those en route and largely

Guled takes care of his wife and mother-in-law in the massive Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. He works as a porter, which brings in minimal wages, and has effectively no upward mobility available to him. In the chapter, “Italy, or Die Trying,” Guled and the boys learn from a friend who reached Italy, sparking a debate among them about crossing the Sea. Their friend’s tale makes them “feel envious and ashamed,” as reaching Europe “was a success” and staying in Dadaab a failure (Rawlence, 279). One critical motivation for daring the cross is feeling “impotent,” failing to “look after his family,” and not feeling like a “man at all” (Rawlence, 283). Guled, in trying to care for his family and deal with feelings of weakness and impotence, strongly considers crossing the Mediterranean for Europe. Through this singular personal account, Rawlence provides powerful insight into the emotional, psychological, and sociological reasons one would consider such an undertaking as risking their lives to reach Europe. The feeling of powerlessness, the desire to care for one’s family, and the augmenting social factors play a considerable role in pushing an individual into attempting the