Ethics and Migration Policy

Aim

On completion of the course, the students should on an advanced level be able to:

• analyse ethical theories relevant to migration and migration policy
• discuss and analyse ethical issues that may arise in relation to migration
• apply ethical theories, principles, and concepts in the analysis of concrete migration issues
• critically evaluate ethical analyses in a constructive manner
• critically explain different positions and arguments within ethics and migration

Content

In the first, theory-focused part of the course, a theoretical framework for justice regarding migration is introduced. This framework serves as the starting point for a critical discussion on key issues concerning transnational migration. Arguments for and against immigration restrictions, as well as the rights and obligations between states and (various categories of) migrants, are systematically analysed.

In the second, more applied part of the course, migration policy is analysed based on the theoretical framework. Justice criteria are used to assess the extent to which concrete political decisions, such as policies on border control, medical age assessments of asylum seekers, and bilateral labor agreements concerning healthcare personnel, can be considered ethically defensible.