A new way of thinking about migration policy

A new way of thinking about migration policy

Instead of focusing solely on theoretical ideals, this approach identifies and analyzes hard policy dilemmas—situations requiring tough choices between competing moral values.

Key highlights of the approach:

• Policy Dilemmas Defined: Hard choices between moral goals, distinct from challenges like conflicting means or political feasibility.
• Action-Oriented Analysis: Aims to bridge theory and practice, offering guidance for real-world decision-making.
• Mitigating Polarization: Encourages nuanced understanding of moral trade-offs to reduce divisive, reductionist debates.
• Multidisciplinary Focus: Combines normative theory with applied insights from diverse fields.

By addressing these dilemmas, “Dilemmas” aims to enrich migration theory and provide actionable insights for policymakers, NGOs, and other stakeholders working in this complex field.

Read the full article that launched this work: 11 October, 2022 – Rainer Bauböck, Julia Mourão Permoser, Martin Ruhs:  “The ethics of migration policy dilemmas”

Check out the coordinators’ recent follow-up article, on ‘Beyond Myth Busting: How Engagement with Ethical Dilemmas Can Improve Debates and Policymaking on Migration’, recently published in the journal ‘Ethics and International Affairs’.