--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ‎\"What Zolberg calls the 'Melville…" description: "\"“‎\"What Zolberg calls the 'Melville principle' is an excellent expression of the fundamental right to free movement... for one surely needs to explain ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/anouar-majid-44142_judaism_what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principl_829694.jpg" --- # ‎"What Zolberg calls the 'Melville principle' is an… ![“‎"What Zolberg calls the 'Melville principle' is an excellent expression of the fundamental right to free movement... for one surely needs to explain what is natural about state structures, in rich and poor countries alike, that confine the movements of billions of people to live and play anywhere…” quote by Anouar Majid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/anouar-majid-44142_judaism_what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principl_829694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/anouar-majid-44142_judaism_what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principl_829694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/anouar-majid-44142_judaism_what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principl_829694.jpg) > ““‎"What Zolberg calls the 'Melville principle' is an excellent expression of the fundamental right to free movement... for one surely needs to explain what is natural about state structures, in rich and poor countries alike, that confine the movements of billions of people to live and play anywhere they want. Melville's vision, echoed in Walt Whitman's poetry, is a far better prospect to imagine than the persistence of a primitive form of nationalism based on exclusion and expulsion, or a social model of gated communities antagonizing the poor by keeping them out of bounds. These are simply not rational long-term solutions for an already besieged planet. If Moors or Moriscos are the residual prototype of Gypsies, Native Americans, Africans, Jews, Hispanics, and, in general, the West's undesirables since 1492, we might as well avoid the tragedies that dogmatic concepts of national identities have engendered -- the expulsion of Jews in 1492; the expulsion of Moriscos in 1609; the scapegoating of minorities as infidels in the nation's holy body politic; and the horrors of genocide visited on various non-Europeans and on Jews in Nazi Germany -- by accepting our true nature as mestizos in a world where national, racial, ethnic, and cultural boundaries are dangerous illusions.”” [Anouar Majid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anouar-majid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that borders and exclusionary nationalism are irrational, urging a view of humanity as a blended, borderless whole to promote freedom of movement and avoid historic tragedies. **In simple terms:** Borders are harmful; we should see humanity as mixed and free. Key Takeaway Embrace openness, reject exclusionary borders. Themes human rights migration nationalism identity history Mood reflective critical hopeful Type philosophical political activist When to use this quote - policy debates on immigration - urban planning for inclusive cities - educational curricula on history - activism against xenophobia - international law reforms Key Concepts border theory social integration colonial legacy global citizenship Questions to Reflect On - How can societies balance security with open borders? - What policies can reduce the fear of cultural dilution? A Different Perspective Implementation faces entrenched political interests and fear of cultural loss. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Free movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-movement/) [Judaism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judaism/) [Native americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-americans/) [Nazi germany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nazi-germany/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle/) [Rich and poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-and-poor/) [True nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-nature/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever happens with Brexit, what I am absolutely convinced will not happen is that free movement of individuals, free movement of people, will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/whatever-happens-with-brexit-what-i-am-absolutely-convinced-will-not/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [I want to see the free movement of our ambos being able to get to and from where they need to be, I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annastacia-palaszczuk/i-want-to-see-the-free-movement-of-our-ambos-being-able-to-get-to-and/) [Annastacia Palaszczuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annastacia-palaszczuk/) > [Clouds are fascinating to paint because they are the only element in a landscape that possesses free movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-carlson/clouds-are-fascinating-to-paint-because-they-are-the-only-element-in/) [John F. Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-carlson/) > [We must continue to liberalise the single market, cut red tape and basically create a digital single market. We have not completed the single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stubb/we-must-continue-to-liberalise-the-single-market-cut-red-tape-and/) [Alexander Stubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stubb/) > [The government rightly resisted pressure to accept Free Movement of people from E.U. countries, to allow us to regain control over our immigration policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-raab/the-government-rightly-resisted-pressure-to-accept-free-movement-of/) [Dominic Raab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-raab/) > [I would like free movement within the E.U. as a result of us protecting external borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matteo-salvini/i-would-like-free-movement-within-the-e-u-as-a-result-of-us/) [Matteo Salvini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matteo-salvini/) > [For clubs, free movement plays a big role in transfers and players' contracts. 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Our nuclear free status is a challenge to much that is accepted as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lange/new-zealand-s-nuclear-free-movement-is-a-broad-based-and-popular/) [David Lange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lange/) > [Europe has massive challenges in completing the single market, the free movement of labour or benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-kendall/europe-has-massive-challenges-in-completing-the-single-market-the/) [Liz Kendall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-kendall/) > [I am not against migration. It is simply pragmatic to restrict migration, while at the same time encouraging integration and fighting discrimination. I support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayaan-hirsi-ali/i-am-not-against-migration-it-is-simply-pragmatic-to-restrict/) [Ayaan Hirsi Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayaan-hirsi-ali/) > [The fact is, as we leave the EU, Britain will be able to choose its own immigration system rather than having free movement with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-hancock/the-fact-is-as-we-leave-the-eu-britain-will-be-able-to-choose-its-own/) [Matt Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-hancock/) > [The truth is that the free movement of goods, people, and money that developed under British hegemony between 1870 and 1913 - the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/the-truth-is-that-the-free-movement-of-goods-people-and-money-that/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) ## More by Anouar Majid > [“One day you will understand why our prophet said that heaven is under the feet of mothers. 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We have not completed the single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stubb/we-must-continue-to-liberalise-the-single-market-cut-red-tape-and/) [Alexander Stubb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stubb/) > [Clouds are fascinating to paint because they are the only element in a landscape that possesses free movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-carlson/clouds-are-fascinating-to-paint-because-they-are-the-only-element-in/) [John F. Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-carlson/) > [I want to see the free movement of our ambos being able to get to and from where they need to be, I need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annastacia-palaszczuk/i-want-to-see-the-free-movement-of-our-ambos-being-able-to-get-to-and/) [Annastacia Palaszczuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annastacia-palaszczuk/) > [The truth is that the free movement of goods, people, and money that developed under British hegemony between 1870 and 1913 - the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/the-truth-is-that-the-free-movement-of-goods-people-and-money-that/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) [Browse all 33 Free movement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-movement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“‎\"What Zolberg calls the 'Melville principle' is an excellent expression of the fundamental right to free movement... for one surely needs to explain what is natural about state structures, in rich and poor countries alike, that confine the movements of billions of people to live and play anywhere they want. Melville's vision, echoed in Walt Whitman's poetry, is a far better prospect to imagine than the persistence of a primitive form of nationalism based on exclusion and expulsion, or a social model of gated communities antagonizing the poor by keeping them out of bounds. These are simply not rational long-term solutions for an already besieged planet. If Moors or Moriscos are the residual prototype of Gypsies, Native Americans, Africans, Jews, Hispanics, and, in general, the West's undesirables since 1492, we might as well avoid the tragedies that dogmatic concepts of national identities have engendered -- the expulsion of Jews in 1492; the expulsion of Moriscos in 1609; the scapegoating of minorities as infidels in the nation's holy body politic; and the horrors of genocide visited on various non-Europeans and on Jews in Nazi Germany -- by accepting our true nature as mestizos in a world where national, racial, ethnic, and cultural boundaries are dangerous illusions.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anouar Majid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anouar-majid/what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principle-is-an-excellent-expression/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Free movement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anouar-majid/what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principle-is-an-excellent-expression/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/anouar-majid-44142_judaism_what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principl_829694.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/anouar-majid-44142_judaism_what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principl_829694.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e5/anouar-majid-44142_judaism_what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principl_829694.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“‎\"What Zolberg calls the 'Melville principle' is an excellent expression of the fundamental right to free…” — Anouar Majid", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Anouar Majid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anouar-majid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“‎\"What Zolberg calls the 'Melville principle'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anouar-majid/what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principle-is-an-excellent-expression/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anouar-majid/what-zolberg-calls-the-melville-principle-is-an-excellent-expression/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```