Posted in Blog, Cologne News on Mar 06, 2026.
In their blog post titled "From Fortress to Earth-Web: Reimagining Mobility and Migration Governance for a Multispecies Future" Dr. Christoph Lange and Dr. Nsah Mala, BRIDGES University of Cologne Hub, give some insights from their panel on Inclusion & Exclusion in the Perspective of Environmental (In)justice held during the DiaMiGo II Summer Research Academy 2025.
The piece advocates for a radical shift in how we perceive and manage the movement of life across borders.
The authors critique the current "Fortress" model of migration governance, which relies on reactive, siloed, and exclusionary border regimes (walls, surveillance, and legal barriers). They propose a transition to an "Earth-Web" perspective, which views migration as a natural, interconnected web of life that sustains planetary health.
A key innovation of this work is the "More-Than-Human" lens. It argues that migration governance should not just focus on humans but also on the movement of:
By acknowledging these entanglements, the authors argue for a more holistic, ecological approach to policy.
The text challenges neo-colonial approaches to border externalisation (where European countries pay North African nations to stop migrants). It calls for a "decolonizing lens" that prioritises the agency of migrants and recognises the historical power dynamics between the Global North and Global South.
Instead of reacting to "crises" as they happen, the authors promote foresight and anticipation. This involves using ethnographic and scientific data to understand long-term trends like climate-induced displacement and the symbiotic relationship between infrastructure (like dams) and human/non-human mobility.
The piece suggests that by governing for a "multispecies future," societies can move away from xenophobic "fortress" mentalities and toward a regenerative system that views mobility as a vital resource for a planet in peril.
Access the blog here.
