Conclusions

Abstract

How are the international society of liberal democracies responsible for what UN Secretary-General described as a ‘crisis of solidarity’ (Ban 2015) over immigration? Millions of undocumented immigrants and refugees face a life of exclusion, exploitation, and worse while the world’s richest liberal democracies, with some exceptions, appear unwilling or unable to extend a hand of welcome. They have instead developed increasingly elaborate immigration systems that seem to make matters worse. While these are no longer explicitly racist, and the days of ethnic selection are officially over, there remains a division of the world into ‘worthy’ and ‘unworthy’ immigrants, and it has never been so stark. For many, free movement has increased; immigration of those with the right profile of nationality and skills is facilitated, even encouraged. For many others, the obstacles grow higher and the risks of overcoming them greater.