Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West: A Postnational Vision For A Global Age

Abstract

Beyond the conventional constraints imposed by borders, nationalism, and fixed state identities, Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West offers a visionary narrative that redefines migration.  The novel uses the potent metaphor of magical doors that allow instantaneous travel over great distances, enabling people to travel freely without the usual limitations of political boundaries, passports, or visas.  Hamid provides a profound critique of the current global response to displacement through this creative device, emphasising the frequently harsh and discriminatory policies that refugees and migrants around the world must contend with.  Exit West examines the human and emotional aspects of migration and how people adjust, make new connections, and re-establish their sense of belonging in strange settings rather than focussing only on migration as a political or economic issue. The book interrogates the primary influence of the nation-state in shaping identity and disputes the belief that citizenship and location should determine an individual’s sense of belonging. Rather, Hamid envisions a future rooted in compassion, flexibility, and international unity, where communities emerge from collective experiences and altruistic support. Hamid explores how Exit West addresses existing global fears related to migration while presenting an optimistic, postnational perspective that envisions a more embracing and connected universe where human movement is recognised as an inherent and enhancing aspect of life.