Do States Have the Right to Exclude Immigrants?

States claim the right to choose who can come to their country. They put up barriers and expose migrants to deadly journeys. Those who survive are labelled ‘illegal’ and find themselves vulnerable and unrepresented. The international state system advantages the lucky few born in rich countries and locks others into poor and often repressive ones.

In this book, Christopher Bertram skilfully weaves a lucid exposition of the debates in political philosophy with original insights to argue that migration controls must be justifiable to everyone, including would-be and actual immigrants. Until justice prevails, states have no credible right to exclude and no-one is obliged to obey their immigration rules.

Bertram’s analysis powerfully cuts through the fog of political rhetoric that obscures this controversial topic. It will be essential reading for anyone interested in the politics and ethics of migration.

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Migration Today and in History
• Chapter 2: Justifying a Migration Regime from an Impartial Perspective
• Chapter 3: Obligations of Individuals and States in an Unjust World
• Concluding Thoughts
• References
• Notes

‘Bertram’s excellent book provides a lucid overview of contemporary philosophical debates about immigration. Its brevity, accessible style, real-world examples, and distinctive perspective will appeal to scholars and students alike. A “must read”.’
Joseph H. Carens, University of Toronto

‘This is a distinctive and immensely accessible contribution to the philosophical debate about immigration. Bertram demonstrates the moral and political costs of the current global migration regime and articulates an attractive ideal of justice in migration.’
David Owen, University of Southampton

"A bolder, more intellectually rigorous approach can be found in Christopher Bertram’s Do States Have the Right to Exclude Immigrants?, which challenges unilateral state discretion over immigration policy and advocates for a global migration regime."
New Statesman

"Christopher Bertram's Do States Have the Right to Exclude Immigrants? is a sharp and insightful short book . . . a reasoned and informed contribution to the heated and divisive debates on immigration policies . . ."
Migration Studies

Christopher Bertram is Professor of Social and Political Philosophy at the University of Bristol