Bentolila: 'El Dorado' myth fuels youth migration to Ceuta

The enduring myth of 'El Dorado,' the legendary city of gold, serves as a powerful lens through which Moroccan academic and political analyst Mohamed Bentolila explains the recent mass crossings into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. In his analysis, Bentolila draws parallels between the ancient allure of unimaginable riches and the modern-day desperation driving thousands of young people to undertake perilous journeys.

Bentolila contends that these collective dreams, often amplified by rumors and misleading interpretations, create a potent illusion of a better future. This manufactured hope, he argues, propels individuals to risk everything in pursuit of an idealized existence, much like the Spanish conquistadors were once lured by the promise of El Dorado.

Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates historical context with contemporary political and social commentary, Bentolila dissects the complex factors fueling these migratory waves. His analysis highlights how distorted perceptions and the relentless pursuit of a perceived paradise can lead vulnerable populations toward dangerous and uncertain paths, underscoring the potent, and sometimes destructive, power of collective imagination.