Abstract
How open should states be to migrants? States are highly selective in deciding whom to include, denying membership to many. Should states be more generous in allowing would-be immigrants to enter their territory, so that they admit higher numbers than they currently do? In the first part of this chapter, I focus on this core question, canvassing arguments for state’s rights to control immigration and considering those that advocate for more open borders. The chapter also considers responsibilities to refugees, a category of migrants that are typically thought to deserve special consideration. In addition, the chapter surveys further prominent topics in migration debates, including normative constraints on admission policies, irregular migration, temporary migration, justice in out-migration, and critiques from critical border theorists. Finally, the chapter also reflects on the implications of COVID-19 for future debates about the importance borders should be accorded.
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Brock, G. (2023). Migration Across Borders. In: Williams, H., Boucher, D., Sutch, P., Reidy, D., Koutsoukis, A. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of International Political Theory. International Political Theory. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36111-1_24
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