What's Philosophy Got to Do With It? - On Morality and the Refugee Crisis

Summary

Professor Joseph Karens, in conversation with Jenny from the Center for Ethics, discusses his research on the ethics of immigration, particularly focusing on the injustices of global inequality. Drawing from his work and experience, he highlights the ethical dilemma of border control, comparing it to feudalism, and argues for open borders as a solution to global injustice. Karens also explores the issue of refugees, critiquing current policies that restrict their movement and access to safety. He emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding in shaping immigration policies, urging students to critically engage with these global issues.

Takeaways

• 😀 Professor Joseph Karin's research focuses on the ethics of immigration, with a special emphasis on issues like open borders and citizenship.
• 😀 Karin became interested in immigration ethics after studying the Haitian refugee crisis in the U.S. during the first Haitian refugee crisis.
• 😀 The idea of open borders was a surprising conclusion for Karin, who found that liberal political theories often support the idea of open borders.
• 😀 Karin's work draws parallels between the global inequality of today and feudalism, arguing that being born in rich countries grants people privileges that others do not have access to.
• 😀 He argues that freedom of movement across borders should be combined with reduced global inequality to create a fairer system.
• 😀 Karin acknowledges that open borders may not be politically feasible, but advocates for examining the ethics behind current global arrangements and inequalities.
• 😀 He reflects on his own experience as a permanent resident in Canada, where he experienced little difference in rights compared to citizens, challenging the traditional view of citizenship.
• 😀 Karin discusses Quebec's immigration policies and the notion of mutual adaptation, emphasizing that integration policies should be fair and respect both immigrants and the host society.
• 😀 He highlights the failure of Canada, the U.S., and other countries in responding to the refugee crisis, noting that these nations are doing much less than countries like Germany in resettling refugees.
• 😀 Karin stresses the moral obligation of wealthy nations to take in refugees, as they should not shift the responsibility solely to countries neighboring conflict zones.
• 😀 The ethical argument for open borders is framed as a challenge to complacency, urging people to think critically about global injustices and how they might contribute to solving them.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Professor Joseph Karin's research?

Professor Joseph Karin's main research focus is on the ethics of immigration, particularly the moral obligations of states regarding immigration policies, open borders, and the treatment of refugees.

How did Professor Karin first become interested in the ethics of immigration?

Professor Karin became interested in the ethics of immigration after the first Haitian refugee crisis in the United States, where Haitian refugees fleeing political repression and poverty were intercepted by the U.S. He explored the topic by analyzing existing political theories and concluded that liberal political theories would support open borders.

What is Professor Karin's argument about open borders?

Professor Karin argues that the current system of border control is unjust, drawing parallels between modern global inequality and historical feudalism. He believes that being born in wealthy, liberal democratic countries gives individuals an unfair advantage, and that open borders could help rectify this injustice, though it must be coupled with reduced global inequality.

How does Professor Karin relate modern immigration policies to feudalism?

Professor Karin compares the division between the wealthy countries (such as Canada, the U.S., and Europe) and poorer countries to the division in feudalism between nobles and peasants. He argues that the global inequality created by birthright is fundamentally unjust, similar to the way feudalism was criticized for creating unjust divisions based on social class.

What does Professor Karin say about the role of freedom of movement in global inequality?

Professor Karin emphasizes that freedom of movement alone is not a cure for global inequality. He argues that both reduced inequality between states and freedom of movement are necessary to address the root causes of inequality. Without addressing inequality, unrestricted movement would not resolve the issue.

How does Professor Karin's personal experience as a permanent resident in Canada influence his views on immigration?

Professor Karin's personal experience as a permanent resident in Canada shaped his views by highlighting that, despite lacking full citizenship rights, his life in Canada was not significantly different from that of citizens. This experience challenged the importance placed on citizenship status in determining one's rights and privileges.

What does Professor Karin think about Quebec's immigration policies?

Professor Karin believes that Quebec's immigration policies should focus on mutual adaptation, where both immigrants and the host society contribute to integration. He supports the idea of immigrants learning French and committing to democratic values but emphasizes that cultural assimilation should not be forced, such as requiring immigrants to adopt practices like eating poutine or becoming Catholics.

How does Professor Karin differentiate between citizenship and permanent residency in Canada?

Professor Karin argues that the difference between citizenship and permanent residency in Canada is not as significant as often perceived. Permanent residents enjoy most rights and duties of citizens, except for voting, serving on juries, and facing deportation in the case of a major crime. This challenges the notion that citizenship is crucial to one's rights and status in society.

How does Professor Karin view the responsibility of wealthy nations in admitting refugees?

Professor Karin argues that wealthy nations, like Canada and the United States, have a moral responsibility to admit refugees, especially considering that countries like Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon are shouldering the majority of the burden in providing refuge. He believes that a fair distribution of refugees across countries is necessary to address the global crisis.

Why does Professor Karin emphasize the importance of challenging complacency about global injustices?

Professor Karin emphasizes challenging complacency because history shows that deeply unjust systems, like slavery or the oppression of women, often persist because people are indifferent or reluctant to change them. He encourages students to critically examine their beliefs, re-evaluate what they take for granted, and actively work against injustices in the world, including those related to immigration.