The migration phenomenon that has shaken Europe for several decades is often approached from humanitarian, economic and social angles. However, one dimension that is rarely highlighted is the way in which modern migration, while seen as an opportunity by some, can also be seen as a form of economic and social dependency, where migrants occupy essential but invisible roles in our societies. In this context, the title “Migration, slaves in the home” reflects this reality: not only are people from abroad, often from the poorest countries, exploited in sectors vital to the European economy, but their status and working conditions remain largely invisible.

Migrants, particularly those from Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, are often recruited for their ability to fill low-skilled, poorly-paid jobs in precarious working conditions. This economic model, based on the exploitation of vulnerable workers, tends to lock them into subordinate roles within European society. While their contribution to the European economy is well recognized, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, construction and personal services, their social status and rights are often relegated to the background.

In this report, we explore the many facets of this migrant phenomenon.

In modern democracies, we expect political decisions to be based on facts, a lucid assessment of the issues at stake, and an ability to recognize and correct mistakes. However, both recent and ancient history shows us the opposite: leaders persist in choices that are manifestly counter-productive, often to the detriment of their own electoral interests. The Vietnam War, the intervention in Iraq, and the management of Covid in certain Western countries illustrate this inability to back down, even in the face of blatant evidence.

This phenomenon is not just a matter of bad faith or conscious manipulation. It is also based on powerful psychological mechanisms, in particular cognitive dissonance, a concept developed by psychologist Leon Festinger in the 1950s. Cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort experienced when an individual is confronted with information or behavior that is incompatible with his or her beliefs, values or past decisions. To reduce this tension, the individual tends to reinterpret reality, deny the facts or cling even tighter to his or her initial positions.