A moral right to stay: Guest commentary

Should more immigration be allowed, not only to counter the threat of an ageing population in our society but also to help with the problem of a lack of skilled workers? Anyone advocating this strategy does not base their demand for more open borders on any moral rights which people wanting to immigrate may have - as predominantly happens in philosophical ethics - but on the interests which the host society has. There then follows a controversial discussion on whether society has aims which give rise to tensions vis-à-vis this strategy - in particular, whether national cultures should be protected. On the other hand, the question is generally ignored of whether the strategy of solving national problems through immigration is not shown in a questionable light as a result of the global context. This strategy assumes great inequalities between the countries involved. If all countries found themselves in the same starting position, then every movement of migrants which solves problems in the target country would increase these same problems in the countries of origin. Seen as a whole, then, nothing would be gained. Also, the net migration rate in a world of countries with similar economic conditions would in any case be close to zero.