Illuminated borders

There are maxims that stand the test of time because they encapsulate centuries of wisdom. “When in Rome, be as the Romans do” is one of them. It does not arise from any narrow chauvinism, but from the recognition that civilization, that delicate embroidery of habits, values, and institutions, requires order, continuity, and fidelity to a common spirit. Immigration without criteria, dissolving multiculturalism, and the arrogance of the new caste of wealthy “expatriates” are all symptoms of an era that confuses mobility with belonging, and tolerance with cultural capitulation.

Portugal is facing unprecedented demographic change: in just six years, the number of immigrants has quadrupled. This is not about gradual and careful integration, but rather a massive, often irregular, influx promoted by naive political elites and short-sighted businessmen, for whom Man is reduced to a mere disposable economic unit, while the State machinery hesitates, stumbles, and welcomes immigrants without conditions or demands. The result is predictable: unsustainable pressure on public services, cultural tensions and a deterioration in social cohesion.

More disturbing is the figure of the “expatriate”, aka the wealthy immigrant, who does not come to integrate, but to “occupy”. He disembarks with lordly expectations, demands courtly treatment from the services (public and private) that assist him, speaks only his own language, and molds the cities to his sanitized taste, converting them into a stage for vanities and an exhibition center for exotic whims. This gentrification is nothing more than a sophisticated form of globalist neo-feudalism that must be fought, not out of resentment, but out of love for the local way of life, which is a legitimate expression of a People.

No less serious is the role of certain “capitalists”, blinded by immediate profit, who transform migratory flows into a cheap labor reserve, with the support of the Left, substituting quality for quantity, and fostering new ghettos instead of community bonds. This degrading utilitarianism is not capitalism in its highest sense (that which invests, qualifies and elevates Human Dignity), but rather a caricature of it, surrendered to numbers and statistics. True capitalism, rooted in Christian ethics and aristocratic rationality, does not reduce Man to a mere instrument of profit.

It is therefore urgent to revive the principle of enlightened prudence. The Australian and New Zealand immigration models, based on points systems that assess merit, cultural compatibility and social usefulness, are an example of how liberal democracies can remain open without becoming vulnerable. The selection of those who enter should be based not only on economic needs, but on civilisational affinities. Welcoming foreigners who wish to become nationals, yes; welcoming the indifferent, the morally opportunistic or the hostile, never.

The predictable criticism, “this is xenophobia,” is intellectually lazy. It is not about hatred of others, but about love for others. Those who arrive must conform to the codes of the house, as has always been the case in any society worthy of the name. And if hospitality is a virtue, it only exists within firmly guarded doors.

Portugal needs to regain confidence in its culture, its language and its way of being. Only then will it be able to continue to welcome people, with generosity but also with demands. The alternative, already visible in Lisbon and other European cities, is fragmentation, cultural replacement, moral collapse and the emergence of radical movements (on the Left and the Right) that undermine the Democratic State. In defence of our future, let us repeat without shame: when in Rome, be Roman, or choose another destiny.

Economist