Introduction: An Ancient Strategy in a Modern World.
Military history is filled with ingenious stratagems, and among its iconic figures, Genghis Khan stands out for his ability to transform seemingly weak elements, such as displaced populations, into strategic tools. In the 12th century, the Mongol leader used refugees as a psychological and logistical weapon to destabilize his enemies and strengthen his empire.

This approach raises a fascinating question: can it shed light on our understanding of modern refugee management programs, sometimes supported by military forces or private actors in the 21st century?

This article explores how Genghis Khan integrated refugees into his military campaigns and analyzes whether these historical practices offer a framework for understanding contemporary migration dynamics, particularly those influenced by military or philanthropic agendas.

In an era where migration flows fuel political and humanitarian debates, this reflection reveals troubling parallels between past and present.

Historical Context: The Rise of the Mongol Empire.
In the early 13th century, Genghis Khan (1162-1227), then known as Temüjin, unified the Mongol tribes to create an empire stretching from Central Asia to Eastern Europe. His success relied on brutal military tactics, exceptional logistics, and a keen understanding of human psychology. The use of refugees as a strategic tool is a notable innovation (The Mongol Conquests, John Man, History Today, Section on Mongol military tactics, 2004, https://www.historytoday.com/archive/mongol-conquests).

Refugees as a Psychological Weapon.
Genghis Khan used displaced populations to sow fear and confusion. During sieges, he drove nearby populations to flee toward enemy cities, overwhelming their resources and weakening their morale. These refugees became tools to destabilize the enemy, amplifying the Mongols’ terrifying reputation. This tactic overburdened enemy defenses, spread fear, and enabled the infiltration of spies (Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, Jack Weatherford, Crown Publishers, Chapter 8: The Mongol War Machine, 2004, https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/76607/genghis-khan-and-the-making-of-the-modern-world-by-jack-weatherford/).

Integration of Refugees into the Mongol Empire.
Genghis Khan did not merely use refugees as a temporary weapon. He integrated skilled individuals, such as artisans or engineers, into his empire. For example, during the conquest of northern China, Chinese engineers built siege machines, while literate administrators managed conquered territories. This pragmatic approach turned a potentially hostile population into a productive resource (The Mongol Empire, Timothy May, Edinburgh University Press, Chapter 5: Administration and Integration, 2018, https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-the-mongol-empire.html).

A Strategy of Global Scale.
By displacing entire populations, Genghis Khan weakened the social structures of his enemies while strengthening his empire. This forced mobility, though cruel, was a key tool for consolidating his power (The Mongol Conquests, John Man, History Today, Section on Population Displacement, 2004, https://www.historytoday.com/archive/mongol-conquests).

Modern Migrations: A Complex Phenomenon.
Mass migrations, driven by conflicts, persecutions, or climate crises, are a major issue in the 21st century. Some observers suggest these flows are not always spontaneous but influenced by state, military, or private agendas. Conflicts in Syria, Libya, or Ukraine have generated refugee waves with significant geopolitical repercussions (The Global Refugee Crisis, Gil Loescher, Foreign Affairs, Section on Geopolitical Factors, 2017, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2017-06-13/global-refugee-crisis).

Parallels with Genghis Khan.
Several parallels emerge between Genghis Khan’s tactics and modern migrations. Just as he overwhelmed enemy cities, migration flows can strain host countries’ infrastructure, as seen during the 2015 European migration crisis (Europe’s Migration Crisis, Edward P. Joseph, Foreign Policy, Section on Political Impacts, 2015, https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/09/11/europes-migration-crisis-syria-refugees/).

States like Turkey have used refugees as leverage in geopolitical negotiations (Turkey’s Refugee Strategy, Soner Cagaptay, Washington Institute, Section on Geopolitical Leverage, 2016, https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/turkeys-refugee-strategy).

Finally, some countries selectively welcome skilled migrants, mirroring Genghis Khan’s integration approach (Migration and Economic Growth, Michael Clemens, Center for Global Development, Section on Selective Immigration, 2011, https://www.cgdev.org/publication/migration-and-economic-growth).

Fundamental Differences.
The modern context, with nation-states, human rights, and organizations like the UNHCR, differs from the Mongol era. Migrations are governed by international conventions, unlike Genghis Khan’s forced displacements (The UNHCR and Global Refugee Policy, Alexander Betts, Refugee Studies Centre, Section on International Frameworks, 2010, https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/publications/the-unhcr-and-global-refugee-policy).

The Role of Military Interventions.
Military interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya have triggered major migration crises. The war in Syria, exacerbated by foreign powers, has displaced millions. These migrations can be exploited for geopolitical goals, such as weakening European unity (Syria’s Refugee Crisis, David Miliband, International Rescue Committee, Section on Conflict-Induced Migration, 2016, https://www.rescue.org/article/syrias-refugee-crisis; The Geopolitics of Migration, Kelly Greenhill, Foreign Affairs, Section on Strategic Migration, 2016, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/europe/2016-04-18/geopolitics-migration).

Sponsored Refugee Programs and the Role of Private Funding.
Refugee programs receive support from military, state, or private sources, including NGOs backed by philanthropists or public institutions. These initiatives, often humanitarian, raise questions about their strategic impacts.

George Soros and the Open Society Foundations: A Major Player.
George Soros, through the Open Society Foundations (OSF), supports pro-migration NGOs. In 2010, OSF committed $100 million over 10 years to Human Rights Watch, which advocates for migrant rights (Open Society Foundations Announce $100 Million Commitment to Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch, Press Release, 2010, https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/09/07/open-society-foundations-announce-100-million-commitment-human-rights-watch).

In 2014, OSF granted $153,728 to United for Intercultural Action, supporting migrants in Europe (OSF Grants Database, Open Society Foundations, Grant Details, 2014, https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants).

L’Auberge des Migrants, active in Calais, received indirect funding through partnerships with OSF-supported NGOs (Migrant Support in Calais, L’Auberge des Migrants, Annual Report, 2016, https://www.laubergedesmigrants.fr/en/annual-report-2016/).

In September 2015, Soros proposed allocating €15,000 per asylum seeker for integration in Europe (Rebuilding the Asylum System, George Soros, Project Syndicate, Opinion Piece, 2015, https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/rebuilding-refugee-asylum-system-by-george-soros-2015-09).

In 2016, he invested $500 million in startups and initiatives for migrants (Why I’m Investing $500 Million in Migrants, George Soros, Wall Street Journal, Opinion, 2016, https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-im-investing-500-million-in-migrants-1474394005).

In 2021, OSF allocated $140 million to pro-migration groups, including $1 million to the Latino Victory Project (OSF Annual Report, Open Society Foundations, Financial Summary, 2021, https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/annual-report-2021).

However, claims like funding debit cards for migrants in Greece were debunked by the UNHCR (UNHCR Statement on Prepaid Cards, UNHCR, Press Release, 2018, https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2018/10/5bb7c7e94/unhcr-statement-prepaid-cards-migrants-greece.html).

Other Philanthropic Actors.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funds migrant health initiatives, such as a HIV/AIDS project in Moldova (Global Fund Partnership, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Project Summary, 2020, https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-health/hiv).

The Ford Foundation invested $2.2 million in UN pro-migration programs (Ford Foundation Grants, Ford Foundation, Grant Database, 2018, https://www.fordfoundation.org/work/our-grants/).

Conclusion: A Timeless Reflection.
Genghis Khan’s use of refugees illustrates the power of strategies exploiting population movements. Modern programs, supported by actors like OSF or the EU, raise ethical and geopolitical questions. Funding examples show that while humanitarian aid is often the goal, strategic impacts cannot be ignored. A critical analysis of the motivations behind migration flows is needed to prioritize solutions based on solidarity and transparency (The Global Refugee Crisis, Gil Loescher, Foreign Affairs, Section on Policy Recommendations, 2017, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2017-06-13/global-refugee-crisis).