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Against Borders
Why the World Needs Free Movement of People
Against Borders
Why the World Needs Free Movement of People
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Description
This book provides a philosophical defence of open borders. Two policy dogmas are the right of sovereign states to restrict immigration and the infeasibility of opening borders. These dogmas persist in face of the human suffering caused by border controls and in spite of a global economy where the mobility of goods and capital is combined with severe restrictions on the movement of most of the world’s poor. Alex Sager argues that immigration restrictions violate human rights and sustain unjust global inequalities, and that we should reject these dogmas that deprive hundreds of millions of people of opportunities solely because of their place of birth. Opening borders would promote human freedom, foster economic prosperity, and mitigate global inequalities. Sager contends that studies of migration from economics, history, political science, and other disciplines reveal that open borders are a feasible goal for political action, and that citizens around the world have a moral obligation to work toward open borders.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: What Are Open Borders?
Chapter 2: Freedom, Coercion, and Open Borders
Chapter 3: Open Borders and Distributive Justice
Chapter 4 Domination, Oppression, and Violence
Chapter 5: Arguments for Closing Borders, Part One: Self-Determination, Security, and the Environment
Chapter 6: Arguments for Closing Borders, Part Two: Culture and Social Trust
Chapter 7: Resistance and Refusal (Toward an Open Bordered World)
Bibliography
Index
Product details
| Published | Jan 13 2020 |
|---|---|
| Format | Ebook (PDF) |
| Edition | 1st |
| Extent | 146 |
| ISBN | 9798881851491 |
| Imprint | Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |
| Series | Off the Fence: Morality, Politics and Society |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
About the contributors
Reviews
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A timely and important contribution to discussions about how to handle the most pressing issues currently facing the world. Sager draws on the concepts of freedom, equality, and distributive justice to push back against common arguments around restricting borders that center on self-determination, security, and cultural values. He not only makes a compelling case for more open borders but also emphasizes the moral responsibility to fight for the rights of migrants. Essential.
Choice Reviews
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Sager’s clear stance, his persuasiveness and holistic view make this book definitely worth reading. It can be recommended to scholars and students looking for an extensive collection of arguments in favour of unrestricted movement—but also to all those who have long been sceptical of borders and their supposed indispensability.
LSE Review of Books
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[Sager's] depiction of the global immigration structure as based on racism, perpetuating and creating inequalities along racial lines, forms a powerful and urgent element of the anti-racism movement that is taking place at this time.
Network for Migration Matters
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In this timely, insightful, and engaging book, Alex Sager argues that there are compelling considerations in favor of open borders, such as the demands of distributive justice and a careful assessment of immigration enforcement policies. He addresses questions concerning political action in the face of border controls, persuasively enjoining readers to do their part in working towards open borders.
Gillian Brock, Professor of Philosophy, University of Auckland, New Zealand
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Alex Sager’s powerfully argued book combines the commitments of an activist with the analytical skills of a political theorist. Drawing on an impressive range of philosophical, historical and social scientific sources, Sager mounts a sustained critique of arguments for border restrictions. Open borders as a feasible political goal has found an eloquent and sophisticated advocate.
David Owen, Professor of Social and Political Philosophy, University of Southampton, UK
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Against Borders is a courageous, deeply knowledgeable and carefully-argued book. In a field saturated with very familiar arguments for even more well-rehearsed positions on free movement, Alex Sager has broken with the crowd, advancing a multipronged and persuasive case that borders are useless, dangerous, and unjustifiable. This book contains readable theory backed up with a rich array of data. Scholars and non-experts alike will benefit from its content.
Elizabeth F. Cohen, Professor of Political Science, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, USA
ONLINE RESOURCES
Bloomsbury Collections
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