Immigration and liberal freedom
Publication Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
5-2024
Abstract
Liberals generally believe that people should be free and that all have an equal claim to freedom. The problem, both philosophically and politically, is to figure out (1) how freedom is to be understood and secured, (2) what treating people equally requires, and (3) who counts as the people to be considered. The question of immigration brings the last of these problems to the fore, and in so doing reveals the extent to which the issues of freedom and equality cannot be addressed without asking: whose freedom and equality of whom? This chapter explores the tension within liberal thinking. Its main purpose is to elucidate the nature of the dilemma liberals face, given the tradeoffs involved. It will, however, also advance reasons for thinking that a more open attitude to immigration is consistent with a better version of liberalism.
Keywords
Liberalism, Immigration, Freedom, Migration, Democracy, Equality
Discipline
Liberal Studies | Political Science
Research Areas
Political Science
Publication
Research Handbook on Liberalism
Editor
D. Ivison
First Page
210
Last Page
224
ISBN
9781839109027
Identifier
10.4337/9781839109034.00019
Publisher
Edward Elgar
City or Country
Cheltenham
Citation
KUKATHAS, Chandran. (2024). Immigration and liberal freedom. In Research Handbook on Liberalism (pp. 210-224). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3964
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.4337/9781839109034.00019