Immigration Justice

What moral standards ought nation-states abide by when selecting immigration policies? Peter Higgins argues that immigration policies can only be judged by considering the inequalities that are produced by the institutions – such as gender, race and class – that constitute our social world.

Higgins challenges conventional positions on immigration justice, including the view that states have a right to choose whatever immigration policies they like, or that all immigration restrictions ought to be eliminated and borders opened. Rather than suggesting one absolute solution, he argues that a unique set of immigration policies will be just for each country. He concludes with concrete recommendations for policymaking.

• Draws on empirical data on trends, patterns and causes of contemporary global migration
• The most thorough, up-to-date examination of existing philosophical work on justice in admissions
• Responds the thought of other political philosophers including John Rawls, Thomas Pogge and Michael Walzer
• Includes chapters on nationalism, cosmopolitanism and policy