Humane Exclusion: How States Justify Excluding Refugees

The global count of forcibly displaced people has surpassed 100 million, with countries like Australia constructing policies to exclude refugees and asylum seekers. Australia provides compassionate reasons for such policies, citing the need to prevent sea drownings, for example. However, these justifications echo historical patterns of controlling vulnerable populations, such as Indigenous people, ethnic minorities, and slaves. These historical echoes suggest that Australia's present policies may be ethically problematic. Through the retrieval and close study of this history, this project seeks to shed light on the justice of Australia's justifications and policies toward refugees today. Featuring close collaboration with an existing network of representatives from NGOs and refugee advocacy groups, this Fellowship will produce a deeper understanding of the hazards of prevailing arguments