On Being a Realist about Migration

Abstract

Does political realism have anything to contribute to the debates about migration in normative political theory? Anything well-established ‘moralist’ theories do not already acknowledge, that is? Addressing Jaggar’s (Aristotelian Soc Suppl Vol. XCIV, pp. 87–113, 2020) and Finlayson’s (Aristotelian Soc Suppl Vol. XCIV, pp. 115–139, 2020) critical intercessions into contemporary discourse about migration I argue that a political realist approach to the theory of migration faces what I call the ‘surplus challenge’: realists supposedly have no normative surplus over (liberal) cosmopolitan and nationalist moralist approaches. This nothing-more-to-add narrative is a common argument against the possibility and integrity of political realism (as seen in, inter alia, Leader-Maynard and Worsnip in Ethics 128(4), pp. 756–787, 2018). I show how it misconstrues the realist agenda. Finlayson, on the other hand, paints the realist intervention as primarily about paying closer attention to colonialism’s long legacy. A properly radical intrusion, however, addresses the unchecked and unwarranted, overbearing normative power of moral principles. I will conclude that for the realist, shaking up the discipline will not come as easy as pointing at some overly historicised facts. However, and despite this, the realist intervention rightly problematises contemporary philosophy of migration for its moral normativism. A radical realist approach to issues of migration, which unmasks the unjustified ‘microphysics’ political power hiding behind normative veneers, is a properly cataclysmic intrusion and the right way forward.

Morality in the Refugee Regime? Arguing for More (Political) Realism in Admitting Refugees

“…So far, the argument has been primarily negative, focusing on showing why the duty of rescue does not apply well to the way refugees appear and which role they play in politics. Different scholars have noted the difficulties of moral approaches to normative research on refugees (Finlayson 2020;Kreutz 2023). 8 What they have not yet done, however, is offer a normative outlook themselves.…”

Moderate realist ideology critique

“…The recent turn toward political realism in Anglophone political theory (Galston, 2010; Geuss, 2008; Rossi & Sleat, 2014; Williams, 2008) has given rise to concerns about its alleged bias toward the status quo (Finlayson, 2017; Markell, 2010; Philp, 2012); as Lorna Finlayson scathingly proclaimed, “with radicals like these, who needs conservatives?” (Finlayson, 2017). Radical realism has recently been developed in response to this accusation (Aytac & Rossi, 2022; Brinn, 2020; Cross, 2022; Kreutz, 2023; Prinz & Raekstad, 2020; Raekstad, 2021; Rossi, 2019; Rossi & Argenton, 2021). One dominant strand of radical realism, closely tied with the work of Enzo Rossi, offers a purely epistemic form of ideology critique (Aytac & Rossi, 2022; Prinz & Rossi, 2017; Rossi, 2019; Rossi 2024; Rossi & Argenton, 2021).…”

“…(Finlayson, 2017). Radical realism has recently been developed in response to this accusation (Aytac & Rossi, 2022;Brinn, 2020;Cross, 2022;Kreutz, 2023;Prinz & Raekstad, 2020;Raekstad, 2021;Rossi, 2019;Rossi & Argenton, 2021). One dominant strand of radical realism, closely tied with the work of Enzo Rossi, offers a purely epistemic form of ideology critique (Aytac & Rossi, 2022;Prinz & Rossi, 2017;Rossi, 2019;Rossi 2024;Rossi & Argenton, 2021).…”

The Nexus of Refugees and Irregular Migrants in the Perspective of National Security in the Southern African Development Community

“…The complex of refugees and irregular migration is a global phenomenon suffocating a number of nations and states in terms of securing national interests. Albeit, critical intercessions into contemporary discourse (Kreutz, 2022) on migration, some people especially with realist approach, either in government or private sector do not understand the distinctness between asylum seekers, refugees, irregular/illegal migrants, human smuggled and human trafficked.…”