Philosophy of International Law and Migration - Period 5 Social Sciences & Humanities Program Spring 2023 Semester - Extended - Amsterdam

What is the relation between inclusion and exclusion in international law and migration? That is the central question of this course. Is a world order conceivable with open borders, or no borders at all? What would that entail for questions of hospitality and sovereignty? And what about the other way around: full exclusion by means of rigorous control of borders, is that plausible? Or is inclusion the inevitable counter-part of exclusion, meaning that the two are mutually exclusive while at the same time in constant need of each other?

In this course these topical questions will be addressed from a philosophical and theoretical perspective. By close reading of some paradigmatic texts we will endeavour to deepen our understanding of the complex relation between inclusion and exclusion. We will address different understandings of inclusion, open borders, closed borders and exclusion. This will include discussions on the relation between human rights and the nation state, economic and post-colonial exclusion, the state of exception and camps. In the two lectures per week these topics will be addressed and linked to contemporary issues of international law and migration.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.