Liberalism, Immigration and Global Justice: Special obligations towards our fellow citizens

Abstract

The article defends the thesis that an egalitarian liberalism leads to a theory of global justice and, as part of it, to the right of immigration. Thus, the burden of proof against global justice and immigration moves to the side of those who wish to limit it. A common argument is that special obligations towards our fellow citizens take priority over general obligations of justice. The article examines particularistic and reductionist arguments in favor of these special obligations, and argues that they can not justify the restriction of justice towards our fellow citizens, nor the absolute discretionary power of the states in controlling its borders