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ARelationalEthicsofImmigration ARelationalEthicsof Immigration HospitalityandHostileEnvironments DanBulley GreatClarendonStreet,Oxford,OX26DP, UnitedKingdom
OxfordUniversityPressisadepartmentoftheUniversityofOxford. ItfurtherstheUniversityâsobjectiveofexcellenceinresearch,scholarship, andeducationbypublishingworldwide.Oxfordisaregisteredtrademarkof OxfordUniversityPressintheUKandincertainothercountries
ŠDanBulley2023
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Acknowledgements Thisbookhasemergedfromarathertorturedjourney.Theoriginalideacamefrom aquestionMollyCochranaskedduringmyinterviewforajobatOxfordBrookes in2017.MylastbookâMigration,EthicsandPowerâhadbeenpublishedearlier thatyearandMollyaskedifithadincludedacritiqueoftheethicsofimmigration debateininternationalpoliticaltheory.Asthebookfocusedonpost-sovereign,nonstatespacescreatedthroughpracticesofhospitality,ithaddeliberatelyavoidedthat debate.MollysuggestedImightthinkoftacklingitinfuturework.Atfirst,thisseemed towarrantanarticle.However,the10,000-wordpiecelatersubmittedtothe CriticalReviewofInternationalSocialandPoliticalPhilosophy didnotdothetrick.As reviewerspointedout,Ispentalotoftimetalkingabouttheimportanceofpractices ofhospitality,butIdidnotinfactspecifyanyâIwasthereforeluckytobegivena âmajorrevisionsâdecision.Workingonthatrevisedsubmission,itbecameclearthat IneededabooktomaketheinterventionIwaslookingfor.Fortunately,OxfordUniversityPresseventuallyagreedwithmyassessment.BigthankstoDominicByattfor allhisworkinbringingthebooktothispoint,whenreviewerswerehardtocomeby. Andtothetwoanonymousreviewersfortheirjudiciousandinstructivecomments. ManyofmycolleaguesatOxfordBrookeshavehelpedmeworkthroughthese ideas.ThanksaredueespeciallytoMollyCochranfortheinitialidea,aswellas numerouscommentsonawrittenversionoftheoriginalarticle.PartsofChapters 1, 2 and 3 werepresentedtothe InternationalTheory and Cultures,Identitiesand Divisions researchgroupsintheGPESResearchCentreatOxfordBrookes.The feedbackfromTamsinBarber,AndreaBardin,VictoriaBrowne,GaryBrowning, EstebanDevis-Amaya,AbbeyHalcli,ChrisHesketh,PeterLugosi,MaiaPal,Doerthe Rosenow,AlexSuttonandLucyFordwasgreatlyappreciatedandstrengthened keypartsoftheargument.Ongoingcriticaldiscussionswithmycollaboratorand colleague,TinaManaghan,havebeenbothencouragingandcrucialtopushing importantelementsofChapter 6.Hopefullysheâllbeslightlyhappierwithwherethe bookendsup.Perhapsmostimportantly,theideasinthisbookhavepartlyemerged throughdevelopingandteachingmythird-yearoptionalundergraduatemodule,The EthicsofMigrationandImmigration.Threeyearsofexcellentstudentsonthismodulehavesufferedalot,buttheirsufferinghashelpedsharpenthecoreclaimsâabig thankstothem.
BeyondBrookes,muchappreciationisowedtoCianOâDriscollforreading sectionsofthebookasitdevelopedandofferingprofoundinsightsandreassurance whenitwasneeded.Similarly,discussionswithmylong-timecollaborator,James Brassett,remaininthebackgroundofmostofwhatIargue,whetherhelikesitor not.MajaZehfusshasremainedmygenerousguideandmentor,evenifshedoes notseewhatIseeinDerridaâsrenderingofhospitality.Mostimportantly,thanks
toCian,James,andMajafortheircontinuedfriendship.Inspirationhasalsobeen drawn,oftenunknowingly,fromconversationsandinterventionsonthisandother projectsfromGideonBaker,JonnyDarling,JennyEdkins,NadineEl-Enany,Mark Franke,TomLundborg,GillianMcFadyen,VjosaMusliu,BenRogaly,VickiSquire, NickVaughan-Williams,MoisesVieira,andWilliamWalters.Iamalsoverygrateful toGonulTolforkindlygrantingmepermissiontousehertranslationoftheErdogan quotationthatappearsasanepigraphtotheIntroduction.
ThankstotheLeverhulmeTrust,whohavesupportedthecompletionofthis projectwithaResearchFellowshipin2022â2023.Thisinvaluablefundinghas allowedmetheconcentratedtimeandspacenecessarytofinishthebook.Forhelp andguidanceinapplyingfortheFellowship,thanksagaintoGaryBrowning,Victoria BrowneandtoYvetteRussell.
Thisbookwaswrittenduringanincrediblychallengingtime,whenmyfamilywas formingaroundaguest,littleYasmin,whoisbuildingherbelongingandseizing controlofourhomewithafiercetenacity.Forlove,guidance,andemotionalsupport,Ioweanimmenseamounttofamilyandfriends.Inparticular,CarolShergold, NathanBulley,RachaelBulley,BrunoBulley,BellaSokhi-Bulley,JasonHowick,and ourBrightonfamilyofNadyaAli,DebbieBroadhurst,TarikKochi,MarkNeocleous, ColinPerrin,andBenWhitham.Youguys.Mostimportantly,asever,foreverything, BalSokhi-Bulley.
ListofAbbreviations ANC AfricanNationalCongress
AU AfricanUnion
DACA DeferredActionforChildhoodArrivals
DVLA DriverandVehicleLicensingAgency
EU EuropeanUnion
Frontex EuropeanBorderandCoastguardAgencyâFrontièresextĂŠrieures
ICIBI IndependentChiefInspectorofBordersandImmigration
IMF InternationalMonetaryFund
IR InternationalRelations
IOM InternationalOrganisationforMigration
JCWI JointCouncilfortheWelfareofImmigrants
MNC MultinationalCorporation
MPI MigrationPolicyInstitute
MPP MigrantProtectionProtocols
MSF MÊdecinsSansFrontières
MS-13 MaraSalvatrucha
NAFTA NorthAmericanFreeTradeAgreement
NATO NorthAtlanticTreatyOrganisation
NGO Non-GovernmentalOrganisation
NHS NationalHealthService
NRPF NoRecoursetoPublicFunds
OAU OrganisationforAfricanUnity
OECD OrganisationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopment
PEP PermisoEspecialdePermanenciaâSpecialStayPermit
RAMV AdministrativeRegistryofVenezuelanMigrants
TANCOSS TanzanianComprehensiveSolutionsStrategy
TCRS TanganyikaChristianRefugeeService
TMF TarjetadeMovilidadFronterizalâBorderMobilityCard
UAE UnitedArabEmirates
UDHR UniversalDeclarationonHumanRights
UK UnitedKingdom
UN UnitedNations
UNDESA UnitedNationsDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairs
UNGA UnitedNationsGeneralAssembly
UNHCR UnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees
UNRWA UnitedNationsReliefandWorksAgency
US UnitedStatesofAmerica
Introduction TheaimistocreatehereinBritainareallyhostileenvironmentforillegal migrationâŚwhatwedonĘźtwantisasituationwherepeoplethinkthey cancomehereandoverstaybecausetheyĘźreabletoaccesseverything theyneed.
HomeSecretaryTheresaMay,May20121
Brothers,youhaveopenedyourarmstoour25thousandsiblingsfrom Syria.Now,donotpayheedtothosewhostrivetoexpelthemfromhere. Theypartofour[religious]fraternity.Theycameherebecausetheytrust andbelieveus[âŚ]Wewillbeensar,wewillopenourarms,wewillnever givecredencetothisdiscordandunrest.
PrimeMinisterTayyipErdoË gan,11May20132
Democratsaretheproblem.TheydonĘźtcareaboutcrimeandwantillegal immigrants,nomatterhowbadtheymaybe,topourintoandinfestour Country,likeMS-13.TheycanĘźtwinontheirterriblepolicies,sotheyview themaspotentialvoters.
PresidentDonaldJ.Trump,@realDonaldTrump,June20183
Atthetoughestmomentofmigration,whenthereisxenophobia,persecutionandrejection,Colombiaoptedforfraternitywiththe#TemporaryProtectionStatuteforVenezuelans[#EstatutoDeProtecciĂłnTemporal paravenezolanos]andweshowtheworldthatalthoughwearenotarich country,weareinsolidarity.#JĂłvenesALaCancilleria.
PresidentIvanDuque,@IvanDuque,9February20214
Withinawidevarietyoftraditionsandcultures,hospitality,welcome,solidarityand friendshipareconsideredâgoodsâ;virtues,practices,orcharacteristicstobepursued, praised,andprovidedwhereverpossible.Itisraretoseehostilityacclaimedinquite
š Quotedin KirkupandWinnett,2012.
² Seetranslationin Tol,2018
Âł SeearchivedcopyoftheTweetat: https://perma.cc/K6B4-65AZ (lastaccessed21May2021).
â´ âEnelmomentomĂĄsdurodelamigraciĂłn,cuandoexistexenofobia,persecuciĂłnyrechazo,ColombiaoptĂłporlafraternidadconel#EstatutoDeProtecciĂłnTemporalparavenezolanosydemostramosal mundoqueaunquenosomosunpaĂsrico,sĂsomossolidarios.#JĂłvenesALaCancillerĂaâ.Translatedby Twitter.Availableat: https://twitter.com/IvanDuque/status/1359266992344231936 (lastaccessed21May 2021).
ARelationalEthicsofImmigration.DanBulley,OxfordUniversityPress.ŠDanBulley(2023). DOI:10.1093/oso/9780192890009.003.0001
thesameway.Untilrelativelyrecently,anâhostileenvironmentâwassomethingwe mightseedescribedinemploymentlawjournals,oronHumanResourceswebsites, assomethingtobeavoidedatallcosts.Aâhostileenvironmentâinthiscontextis aworkplacethatknowinglyallowssevere,pervasiveandpersistentdiscrimination againsttheprotectedcharacteristicsofanemployee(suchastheirage,race,religion ordisability;see Muller,2020).Hostilityinthiscontextisfoundinexposuretoovert prejudiceandbigotry.Thisisperhapsthekindofhostileenvironmentforimmigrants createdintheUSandexemplifiedbyformerPresidentTrumpâsobjectificationand dehumanisationofimmigrantsasâillegalâfiguresthatâpourâinandâinfestâthehost countrylikeaplagueofpestsorparasites.âľ
Whenfacedwiththreatening,invasivelife-forms,however,ahostileenvironment canoftenappeartomakesensetoanythingthatconsidersitselfânativeâ.Forthehost thatfindsithasbecomeinfestedwithunwelcome,parasiticguests,creatingahostile environmentisamatterofextinguishingthemeansnecessaryforthosegueststo continueliving.Inscientificjournals,anenvironmentisdescribedashostiletolife whenithaslowmicrobialactivity,limitedbiodiversityandweakdevelopmentofan ecosystem(WilliamsandHallsworth,2009).Itisonlyinextremelocationssuchasthe hot,saltylakesofAfricaâsRiftValleythatwefindenvironmentstoohostiletosupport lifeassuch(Pennisi,2019).Buteveninitsmorelimitedform,abiologicalâhostile environmentâissomewherethatsmothersdiversity,stiflesdifference,preventingthe flourishingoflife.ThisismorethesenseinwhichtheUKâsthenHomeSecretary, TheresaMay,usedtheterm.Shedecriedaâsituationâinwhichimmigrantstothe UKfeltthattheycouldâaccesseverythingtheyneedâ.Thesolutionwasthereforeto removeaccesstosuchnecessities,chokingoffthepossibilityoflifeanditssurvival.
Whatunitesbothformsofhostileenvironmentistheimplicationthatthehost societycanensurethepest,theunwantedguest,experiencestheirnon-belonging, theirunwelcomeness,andthenecessityoftheirexclusionandrejection.Thiscan bedoneeitherintheformofprejudiceanddiscriminationauthorisedorpermitted fromabove,orthroughthesystemicremovalofaccesstothematerialnecessitiesthat sustainlife,suchasfood,heat,water,shelter,andmeaningfulrelationships.Incontrast,appealstohospitality,solidarity,friendship,andcompassionsuggesttheexact opposite:thewelcomingofthestranger,theirtreatmentashumansubjectsworthy ofequalcare,responseandperhaps,even,belonging.
Immigrationisalwaysamatterofhospitalityandhostility:thewelcomereceived orrefused;theextenttowhichthehostsocietymakestheimmigrantfeelâathomeâor outofplace;thelengthoftimetheguestispermittedtostaybeforetheyaredeported orâintegratedâ,becomingahostorejectedforoverstayingtheirwelcome.Immigration isalsofrequentlydiscussedusingthelanguageofhospitalityandhostility,whether thecharacterisationismadebypoliticians,internationalorganisations,thenews media,civilsocietygroupsorsimplyaspartofeverydayconversation.Forinstance,
âľ Eachofthequotations(fromMay,Erdogan,Trump,andDuque)atthestartofthisIntroduction linktospecificpoliciesandpracticesofhospitalitythatwillbethefocusofthecomingchapters.The UKâshostileenvironmentwillbeexploredinChapter 5;Turkeyâsfraternalwelcomewillbeexploredin Chapter 3,alongwithTrumpâswhitesupremacismandColombiaâssolidarity.
âRefugeesWelcomeâhasbecomeaninternationalnetworkofindividualsandfamilies welcomingrefugeesintotheirhomes.âś Ithasalsobecomearallyingcallthatunites cities(e.g.Gdansk,Leipzig,Manchester,Vienna,andZagreb)acrossaEuropethat haslargelycloseditsexternaldoors,andabanneratprotestsandralliesthroughouttheworld(EuropeanResettlementNetwork,2015).Similarly, MigrantsOrganise isaplatformforimmigrantsthemselvestoarrangetheiradvocacy,campaigningto âturntheUKintoawelcomingandhospitablecountryâbydirectlychallengingthe governmentâshostileenvironment.⡠IntheUS,groupssuchas WelcomingAmerica seektobuildhospitablecommunitiesthroughlocalworkandnationalcampaigns likeâBelongingBeginswithUsâ.Suchcampaignsaimtobuildâamorewelcoming nationwhereeveryoneâregardlessoftheirbackgroundâcanfeeltheybelongâ.⸠A moreovertlyreligiousresponseisfoundintheCatholicNGOsandcharitiesthat makeupthenetworkofshelters,localcommunities,andhumanitarianorganisations alongtheMexicanmigrationcorridor.This DimensiĂłnPastoralDeLaMovilidad (PastoralDimensionofHumanMobility)networkaimstoprovidehospitalitytopeopleintransit,seekingentryorwhohavebeendeportedfromtheUS(Olayo-Mendez etal.,2014).
However,asweseewiththequotationsfromErdoËganandDuquethatbegan thisIntroduction,thelanguageofhospitalityisnotconfinedtograss-rootsactivists, charities,andsocialmovements.IthasbeencentraltoTurkeyâsresponsetoSyrian refugeesandColombiaâsjustificationfortakingindisplacedVenezuelans.Andthese arenottheonlyexamplesofhospitablestateresponses:inFebruary2017,UNSecretaryGeneralAntonioGuterrespraisedGermany,andspecificallyChancellorAngela Merkel,foractingasasymboloftoleranceandâhospitalityâtowardsthoseforcibly displacedbytheSyrianregime,aâsymbolIwouldliketoseefollowedinmany,many otherpartsoftheworldâ(UNNews,2017).Likewise,inMarch2018,theUNHCR andtheIOMlaunchedajointappealfordonorstomeettheneedsofthe900,000 Rohingyarefugeesand330,000âvulnerableBangladeshisinthecommunitieshosting themâ.TheBangladheshigovernmentandpeoplewerepraisedfortheirâextraordinarygenerosityandhospitalityâ,withtheUNResidentCoordinatorinBangladesh notingthatthishospitalitywentfarbeyondprovidingimmediateprotection:
Intermsoffirstresponders,intermsofprovidingland,intermsofkeepingits bordersopen,intermsofprovidingasylum,intermsofbuildingroads,extending electricitynetworks,providingfood,secondingcivilservants,providingpoliceand armytokeeporderinthecamp.Thebiggestdonortothiscrisiscontinuestobethe peopleandthegovernmentofBangladesh.
(UNHCR/IOM,2018)
âś See https://www.refugees-welcome.net/.
⡠Forexample,MigrantsOrganiseledthewayinestablishingtheNationalRefugeeWelcomeBoard, coordinatingactivistinterventionsinthehostileenvironment.Thisalsoincludedcampaignssuchas âPatientsnotPassportsâaimstokeeptheNHSopentoall.See: https://www.migrantsorganise.org/?page_ id=26373
⸠See https://welcomingamerica.org/belonging-begins-with-us
TheseelementsoftheBangladeshiwelcomeâincludingfood,space,energy,protection,infrastructure,andresourcesâareprovidingpreciselyforthelivingâneedsâthat ahostileenvironmentseekstostifle.Whatthisbrieftourofglobalexamplesdemonstrates,then,isthathospitalityandhostileenvironmentshavebecomethelanguage ofeverydayimmigrationethics.Thesearetheconceptsandpracticesthroughwhich societiesunderstandandnegotiatetheirresponsibilitiesandobligationstowardsthe inclusionandexclusionofthosecomingfromoutsidetheirborders.AsMirielle Rosello(2001:6)argues,âwhetherornotthewordisexplicitlyused,hospitalityis nowatthecenterofthispolitical,social,andeconomiccontroversyâofimmigration. And,ofcourse,thiscontroversyisalsoalwaysalreadyoneofethicsâresponsibilities, obligations,rights,andjustice.
Acentralclaimofthisbook,then,isthatthelanguageandpracticeofhospitalitymustbeunpackedandunderstoodintheincreasinglynoisyimmigrationethics debatetakingplaceininternationalpoliticaltheory.Butwhatmightâunpackingand understandingâhospitalitymean?Untilquiterecently,academicdiscussionofthe responsibilitiesandobligationsincurredbythemovementofpeopleacrossstatebordershasbeenlargelyabsent,especiallyinthedisciplineofpolitics.Latterly,there hasbeenasteadilygrowinginterestintheconceptandpracticeofhospitality,with anincreasinglywiderangeofbooksexploringitshistorical,gendered,commercial,racial,philosophical,spatial,religious,andpoliticalaspects(see McNulty,2007; Molzand Gibson,2007;Hamington,2010a; Baker,2011; 2013; Claviez,2013a; Siddiqui,2015; Bulley,2017a).Yet,asIwilloutlineinChapter 1,westilllackaproper explorationofwhathospitalitymightmeanintermsofimmigrationethics,aninvestigationthatrespondstothemorepopularclaimsforopenborders,noborders andindividualsârighttofreemovement(Hayter,2003; 2004; Andersonetal.,2009; Carens,2013; Bauder,2014;Jones,2017),orfortheconstrainedrightsofstatesto restrictthatmovementandcontrolitsborders(Walzer,1983;Miller,2007;Wellman, 2008; BaubĂśck,2009; Pevnick,2011; Miller,2016).
Totakehospitalityseriouslymeansofferingitthesamelevelofcriticalattentionas discussionsthatoriginateinliberalprinciplesoffreedomandmoralequality,human rights,andcommunalself-determination.Giventhatsomuchofthepublicdebate aroundhowstatesandsocietiesoughttorespondtomigrationrevolvesaroundhostingandhostilityâtheacceptanceandabuseofhospitality,makingrefugeeswelcome andmakingthemunwelcome,theopeningandclosureofarmsandhomesâitistime hospitalityreceivedtheattentionitdeserves.Ultimately,myclaimisthathospitality canofferaverydifferent, relational approachtotheethicsofimmigration;analternativevoicetothemorestraightforwardlynormativepositionsofopenborders,free movementandstatesârightstobordercontrol.
HospitalityasRelationalPractice:CaveatHospes Whatissoimportant,invigoratingandinfuriatingabouthospitalityisthatitis notthekindofabstractandrigorouslyexplicableideathattendstodominateacademicethicaldebates.Ithascertainlyplayedlittlerolewhenthosedebatesconcern
immigration.Hospitalityisnotasgrandorall-encompassingasâhumanrightsâ (Benhabib,2004),inthatitdoesnotseektocoverallbasesorgrounditselfinauniversalunderstandingtheâhumanâ.Equally,hospitalityisnotnovelorunfamiliarin thesamewayasaconceptsuchasânon-dominationâ(HonohanandHovdal-Moan, 2014).Nordoeshospitalityalienateactivists,politiciansandundergraduatesbybeing asabstractandunapproachableasideaslikeâassociativeownershipâ(Pevnick,2011). Itisrecognisable,comfortableeven.Itissomethingweseeasagrounded,everyday experience,anormalpracticeofhumansocialityâtheacceptanceandwelcomingof othersfromoutsideintoâourâhomespace,andviceversa.Thereisnothingambitious orexceptionalabouthospitality;onthecontraryitappearsratherdullandbanalnext totheexpansiveselflessnessofdeontologicalcategoricalimperatives,orthehardnosedcalculationsofconsequentialism.Itisnotsuitedtoforminganegalitarian theoryofglobaljusticewithinwhichthedominanttheoriesofimmigrationethics placethemselves(Walzer,1983; 1994; Miller,2007; Carens,2013).Indeed,hospitalityappearssolimited,unambitious,andfamiliarthatmanytookitforgranted beforetheglobalCovid-19pandemicmadehostingfirstlargegatherings,andlater singleindividualsandevenfamilymembers,acriminalactinmanycountries.âš
Thecommonplace,everydaynatureofhospitalityisperhapswhatmakesitso appealingtopublicandprivateactors,fromstatestocivilsocietygroups.Itisan easywayofcommunicatingpolicies,responsibilities,andgoalstoawiderpublic. Asametaphor,hospitalityisasimplewaytomakesenseofandunderstandwhatis goingoninimmigrationâwhereanationalsocietystandsinasanupscaledversion ofthefamilyhomeandthemigrantbecomesawelcomeorunwelcomeguest.But itisalsoaâmetaphorthathasforgottenitisametaphorâ(Rosello,2001:3).States andtheirbordersareincreasinglygovernedasiftheywereaâhomeâ,withdepartmentsofâHomelandSecurityâandâHomeOfficesâ,discussionsofâfortressâEurope andmigrantstoldtoâGoHomeâ(Walters,2004;Jonesetal.,2017).Alongwithhostile environmentsthishasmeantthatimmigrationpoliciesandtheirdailyenactmentare treated literally aspracticesofhospitality.Thoughtheveryeverydaynessofthisrenderingmakesitappealingforpublicdebate,italsomakeshospitalityanimprecise, messy,andelasticmodeofbehaviour.Standardsandnormsofreceivingstrangers varywildlydependinguponcontext,culture,time,andplace.Judith Still(2011) has notedthatalargepartofhospitalityâsappealisthatitisseenasuniversallysignificant.Butthatveryuniversalitycaneasilycoveroverthefactthatâhospitalityâmeans differentthings,atdifferenttimes,todifferentculturesandtraditions.
Thisvarietyincludesdisparitiesoveratleastthreethings.First,thereisnoagreementoverwhoorwhatevenconstitutesthe subjectofhospitalityâwhoisaguest andwhoisahost?Arefriendsandfamilytheonlygueststowardswhomonehasa trueresponsibility?Orarefriendsandfamilyactuallyâhostsâ,andtruehospitality isaccordedonlytocompletestrangers,assuggestedbyJacquesDerrida(in DerridaandDufourmantelle,2000:25)?Asecondelementinitsdiverseconstitution regardsthe spaceofhospitalityâhowmuchofthehomemusttheguestbegiven
âš Forausefulmapofâstayathomeârestrictionsandtheirdevelopmentthroughthepandemic(from1 January2020),see https://ourworldindata.org/covid-stay-home-restrictions
accessto?Onlytheâreceptionârooms,ortheentiretyofthespace?Mustthehostliterallymaketheguestâfeelathomeâ,givinguptheirownfeelingofâat-homenessâand ultimatelyreversingtherelationshipandbecomingaguest(Derrida,1999:92â93)? Andfinally,disagreementaboutregardingthe temporalityofhospitalityâhowlong musttheguestbeallowedtostay?EventhefamouslygenerousBedouinhospitality onlylastsforthreedaysandathird(Shryock,2012).So,whendoesaguestoutstay theirwelcomeandwarrantexpulsion?Andwhenhasaguestbecomesoestablished, sointegrated,soincharge,thattheybecomeahost?
Intheseenquiries,itbecomesclearthatquestionsaboutthesubject,spaceand timeofhospitalityallimplicateandoverlapwitheachother.Equallyclearisthatthey havenosimpleoruniversalanswers.Neitheristhereaneasyanswertothequestion ofwhenrestrictionstothesubjects,spacesandtimesofhospitalityslidebeyondthe acceptableâwhenourhospitalitybecomesitsapparentopposite,turningthehome intoahostileenvironment.Hospitalityisthoroughlymarkedbythisimprecisionand insecurity;hostilityisnottheoppositeofhospitalitybutalwayscontainedwithinit. WecanevenseethisetymologicallyinthefactthatforbothLatin(hospes)andFrench (hĂ´te),thesamewordisusedforbothâhostâandâguestâ.Thesubjectofhospitality isunstable,reversibleandinterchangeable:asDerridanotes,thegiving,openhost (hĂ´te)caneasilybecomethe hostage oftheguest(hĂ´te)(in DerridaandDufourmantelle,2000:123â125).Hospitality,astheopeningofthehometothestrangerisnota peacefulgesturethatinstitutesjusticeandequality.It marks apowerstrugglerather thanendingit:astruggleoverthesubject,spaceandtimeofhospitalitythathasno easyresolution.Itisinthissensethat,justascontractlawcustomarilydictatescaveat emptor (letthebuyerbeware)regardingthepurchaseofproperty,anyinvocationof hospitalitymustbeaccompaniedby caveathospes (lettheguest/hostbeware).
Thesemanycaveatsandblurryedgessurroundingthesubject,spaceandtime ofhospitalitymayleadonetodespairofeverdefiningit.Derridawarnsusofthat anyprecisedelineationofhospitalityisdoomedtofailasitsvariabilityrefusestobe tamedwithindiscretelimits(2000:6).Forothers,thisambivalencemakeshospitalityaninterestingbutultimatelyinappropriateanddoubtfulconceptforemployment inethicaldebates(Benhabib,2004:39; Altman,2017:94).Iagreewithpartsofthis argument:hospitalityisnotan idea ora concept thatcanbedrawnoutanddefined intheabstractandthenappliedtoconcretesituations,inimmigrationorelsewhere. ItdoesnotfitwiththisvisionofwhatIcallnormativeethics,whichMargaretUrban Walker(2007:58)šⰠdescribesasfollows:
Theregnanttypeofmoraltheoryincontemporaryethicsisa codifiable (andusually compact)setofmoral formulas (orproceduresforselectingformulas)that canbeappliedby any agenttoasituationtoyieldajustifiedanddeterminate
šⰠMargaretUrbanWalkerdoesnotdescribethisdominantunderstandingofethicsasânormativeâ,but Ipreferthislabeltothatwhichsheuses:theâtheoretical-juridicalâmodel.Thisisdealtwithfurtherin Chapter 2.However,itisimportanttonoteherethatIamadaptingWalkerâsworkthroughoutthisbook, ratherthanemployingitinastraightforwardfashion.Itakeinspirationfromherâexpressive-collaborativeâ modelinconstructinghospitalityasarelationalethics,butmyadaptationislooseratherthanslavishly followingherapproach,andtheresultisunlikelytobesomethingshewouldfindeasytoendorse.
action-guidingjudgement.Theformulasorprocedures(iftherearemorethanone) aretypicallyseenasrulesorprinciplesatahighlevelofgeneralityâŚTheseformulasmodelwhatthemorallycompetentagentoridealmoraljudgedoesorshould know,howeverimplicitly.
Hospitalitydoesnotallowitselftobetranslatedintothiskindofethics.Thereare toomany caveats impingingonthe hospes (hostandguest)topermithospitalityto becomeacodifiableformula,evenifwethoughtthatthisiswhatethicsis,orwhat itoughttobe(whichIdonot).Rather,thevalueofhospitalityliesinthefactthatit isa practiceâwhatIamdefiningasasetofbehavioursthatmakesensewithin,are producedby,andconverselyalsoreproduce,aspecificsocialandpoliticalcontext.It isaâperformedactivitydirectedatparticularindividualsâandgroups(Hamington, 2010c:32).Ifweabstracthospitalityfromthatparticularcontext,drawingitout, findingitsâtrueâprinciplesasanormativeconceptthatwilltellusârightâfromâwrongâ orâgoodâfromâbadâ,itisnolongerapractice.AsPierreBourdieuargues,totreat practicesinsuchawayistostripthemâofeverythingthatdefinesthemdistinctively aspractices,thatis,theuncertaintyandâfuzzinessâresultingfromthefactthatthey haveastheirprinciplenotasetofconscious,constantrules,butpracticalschemes, opaquetotheirpossessors,varyingaccordingtothelogicofthesituationâ(Bourdieu, 1990:12).
AsIwillargueinChapter2,thoughpracticessuchashospitalitycannotbedefined inprecise,codifiableformulasanduniversalterms,wecansaysomethingabouttheir structuralorganisationaspracticesâwhatseparatesthemfromother,similarpracticessuchascaring,humanitarianismorfriendship.Whateverelseisinvolvedin hospitality,Isuggestthatitisalwaysa spatial and emotional practiceinwhich power isemployedtoincludeandexclude,enforcingbelongingandnon-belonging.Initself, thisdefinitionispurelystructuralâitpointsonlytotherelationsbetweenmoving parts(space,emotion,power),partsthatwillbeverydifferentlyconstituteddependinguponthecontext.So,whereascaringandhumanitarianismmayrequirespatial andemotionalelements,theemotionsinvolvedarerarelythoseofbelongingand non-belonging;thespatialelementsdonotnecessarilyincludethemovementacross athresholdofbelonging;andtheexerciseofpowerisunlikelytobeemployedto includeandexcludefromaâhome-likeâspace.Myclaimisthatforaparticularactivity tobeconstitutedasoneofhospitalityand/orhostility,itrequiresastructuralrelation betweenthosespecificparts:space,emotion,andpower.
Whatthisdefinitioncannotofferisthenormativeformulasthatregnantmoraltheorywouldperhapsaimfor,aclearsetofguidanceonhowhospitality,theinclusion andexclusionofothers,ought tobepracticed.TherenderingIamofferingisprimarilydescriptive,withoutclearresourcesforprescription.Ratherthantreatingethics asadeterminablecodeforhowwe ought tobehavetowardsstrangers,Iproposehospitalityasarelationalethicsâanethicswithoutmoralismâthathelpsusunderstand andpossiblytransformthewayweactually do embraceandevadeobligationsand responsibilitiestoeachother.Idonotarguethatbeinghospitableisanethicalgood; theargumentisnotthatweshouldbemoreopen.Rather,hospitalityisdevelopedasa structuralandemotionalresponse,apracticewhichinvolvesdrawingandredrawing
boundariesofinsideandoutside,belonging,andnon-belonging,responsibilityand itsevasionordeflection.Ittherebyactivelycreatesasocietyasacommunalspacewith aparticularethos,ratherthanwelcomingstrangerstoapre-existingcommunity.
Hospitalityisthereforetreatedasacriticalmodeofreflectingon how wecreate aâweâandrelatetoothers.Itisaâperformativeactofidentityâinthesensethatitis onlyinthepracticalaction,theperformanceofwelcomeandunwelcome,thatthe host(whetheranindividualorasociety)comesto be,and beknown (Hamington, 2010c:24).Howwerelatetoothers,welcomingandrefusingthem,makingthem comfortableorencouragingtheirinsecurity,tellsusaboutasocietyâslived,concrete identity,ethics,andvaluesânottheethicalprinciplesit claims or professes,butthose itactuallyenacts Itisinthissensethatwecansay,â[h]ospitalityiscontextâ(Ahmed, 2010:118).Andonlythroughsuchareflectiveunderstandingofsocialcontextandits practicesofwelcomecanwehopetotransformimmigrationregimes,sotheybetter reflectanalternativeoraspirationalethos,orsotheysimplycultivateratherthan undercutasocietyâscapacitytorespondtothosetheyconstituteasoutsiders.
Myunderstandingofethics,then,emergesfromatraditionthatIrefertoas ârelationalââatraditionthattiestogetherpartsofcriticalfeminist,poststructuralist,decolonialandnon-WesternphilosophiessuchasConfucianismandsouthern African ubuntu (see Robinson,1997; Fagan,2013; Tronto,2012;Metzand Miller, 2016;Odysseos,2017;Hutchings,2019;Ngomane,2019).Despitethemassivedifferenceswithinandbetweentheseapproaches,allacceptthatparticularresponsibilities forotherpeoplearenotgeneratedsimplybyacommonhumanity,orashared citizenship/nationality.Rather, particular responsibilitiesaregeneratedthrough interaction,interdependence,andconnection.Whetherthoserelationshipsaretight orlose,closeordistantintimeandspace,whethertheyareeconomic,political, social,historical,orbiologicalinnature,theyaremorallysignificantandgenerate responsibilities(Young,2006; Tronto,2012).
InChapter 2 Ithereforeoutlinehospitalityasarelationalethicsthateffectively helpsusdrawoutwhereourresponsibilitieslieandhowweâmapâandassignthem, endorsingandacceptingsomeasrequiringresponse,whiledeflectinganddenying others(see Walker,2007).Suchamapping,Iargue,doesnotincludetheresources totellushowresponsibilities ought tobeassignedandaccepted.Rather,itoffers anunderstandingofasociety,aculture.Itpromptscriticalreflectionratherthan necessitatingmoralendorsementordisgust.Possiblere-mappings,includingactionablechanges,arealwaysavailable;wecanseetheminthewayasocietyâsethos ofhospitality,itsresponsibilitymap,iscontestedandopposedfromwithin.Other responsesalwaysexist,counteringthedominantapproach(aswewillexploremore inChapter6).Butthereisnotimeless,universal,idealscenarioofwelcome.Advocacy ofaâbetterâ,moreresponse-ablevisionofhospitalityiscrucial.Butitisanethicopoliticalstancewemusttakeandnegotiateinaparticularcontext,accordingtothe differentforcesandfactorsatplay.The right waytowelcomeorrejectotherscannot begeneratedorendorsedinanysimplewayfromarelationalethicsofhospitality. Whatwehavethenisanother caveathospes.Theârelationalethicsâofhospitality thatIwillexploreandunpackinthisbookdoesnotoffersecurity,aguaranteeof
bestpractice,rightconductoraclearconscience.Myrenderingofhospitalitydoes notofferitupconceptuallyasasetoffirmprincipleswhichcanguideactionsand judgements.Suchanormativeunderstandingofmoralinquiryasaâsafetynetâ,which promisesandassuresusofourowngoodness(Caputo,1994:18),isnotwhatIam aimingforletalonehitting.Farfromit.šš Iamnotattemptingtocleanupthemessinessofhospitalityasaneverydaypractice,bluntitssharpedgesorpolishawayits imperfections.Instead,Iseethatmessiness,thosejaggedboundariesandlimitations askeycharacteristicsofanethicsthatexploresandreflectsuponconcretesituations, realinter-humanrelations,andtheresponsibilitiestheygenerate.Sucharelational ethicscanonlyoperateinandthroughtherealworldofinconsistencies,powerstrugglesandresistancewithouttheexpectationofultimatelyresolvingorpacifyingthe skirmish.
NotesonMethod Thebookâsargumentemergesfromtheclaimthatforethicalandpoliticaltheoriststo haveapurchaseonimmigrationdebates,theyneedtostartfromtheactualbehaviour ofimmigrantsocietiesandthelanguagecommonlyusedtojustifyandcontestits practices.Whilstpublicdiscussionsofâourâresponsibilitiesforimmigrantshastaken placeintermsoftheeverydayexperiencesofhospitalityandhostility,recent scholarly debateonimmigrationethicshasbeendominatedbylargelyabstractconcepts takenfromnormativeliberal(international)politicaltheory.Ratherthanisolatean idealfromthemessinessofhospitality,makingitintosomekindofnormativemodel, suchasanunconditionalopennessoranideallyconditionalwelcome,Iadvocate exploringhospitalityasagrounded,relationalethics.Todosorequiresthatwetreat hospitalityasasetofpractices,actionsandinactionsthatmakessensewithin,are producedby,andconverselyalso(re)produce,aspecificsocialandpoliticalcontext.Suchpracticesofmakingwelcomeandunwelcome,encouragingbelonging, andenforcingnon-belonging,needtobedrawnoutofspecificexamplesinthe contemporaryworld.
TakingmyleadfromMargaretUrbanWalkerandherâmappingsâofresponsibility, then,themethodIemployinthisbookisoneofâreflectiveanalysis offormsofmoral lifeâ,ananalysisthatcanâonlyoperateoninformationabouttheflowofinteractions indailylifeâ(2007:11).Todrawoutthelived,everydayethicsofaparticularpolicy orpractice,suchareflectionneedstocompareandcontrastbetweensocietiesand withinthem.Wecanmosteffectivelydrawouttheethosofasociety,theparticularwaysinwhichitmapsitsresponsibilitiesforbothnationalsandnon-nationals, throughacontrastwithothersocietiesthatmayespousesimilarordifferentvalues andwaysofbeing-in-relation.Forinstance,IbeganthisIntroductionbycomparing
šš AsDerridanotes,âAnethicswithguaranteesisnotanethics.Ifyouhaveanethicswithsomeinsurance, andyouknowthatifyouarewrongtheinsurancewillpay,itisnâtethics.Ethicsisdangerousâ(in Payne andSchad,2003:31â32).
thelanguageofhospitalityandhostilityusedbyUK,Turkish,USandColombian politiciansâexamplesIwillgoontoexplorefurtherinChapters3â6.Butwecanalso notehowaparticularsocietyâsethosisendorsedorcontested,bothfromwithinby domesticsocietalactors(see WelcomeAmerica and SanctuaryCities intheUS),and bytransnationalactorsininternationalsociety(RefugesWelcomeInternational and theUNHCR).Theprimarymethodofthebookisthereforetodrawouttheparticularwaysinwhichresponsibilityisassigned,accepted,deflected,anddeniedthrough practicesofhospitalityandhostilityinstatesandsocietiesaroundtheworld.This willincludearangeofillustrativeexamplesinChapters3â6,includingpracticesfrom Australia,Canada,Colombia,Turkey,Lebanon,Tanzania,theUnitedArabEmirates (UAE),theUK,theUSandVanuatu.
Atrueattempttodrawoutaculture,ethosorâmoralorderâofasociety,isofcourse enormouslydemanding,intricate,andarduous.Suchamethodisneverthelessnecessarytoarelationalapproachthattriestostepbeyondatheoristâsownbeliefsand understandings.AsWalkeroutlinesit:
Anempiricallysaturatedreflectiveanalysisofwhatisgoingoninactualmoral ordersneedstobesuppliedbymanykindsoffactualresearches,includingdocumentary,historical,psychological,ethnographic,andsociologicalones.These researchesarenotthemselvesmoralphilosophy,butwithoutthemethicshas nothingtoreflectonbutmoralphilosophersĘźownassumptionsandexperiences. Givinguponthepurecoreofmoralknowledge,andtryingtomakethebestand mostcompletesenseofalltheinformationwecangetabouttherealformsmorality takesindiversehumanlives,isnosmalltaskformoralphilosophy.
(2007:11)
Arelationalapproachisnot,however,purelydescriptiveâitalsorequirescritical reflectionontheculturesofresponsibilitythataredrawnoutbytheseempirical enquiries.Suchcriticalreflectionaskswhethertheseâmoralunderstandingsreally areintelligibleandcoherenttothosewhoenactthemâ,whethertheycanaccountfor themselvesmorallyintheirownterms,whetherâwhatisgoingoninmoralorders makestherightkindofsensetotheparticipantsinthosewaysoflifeâ(2007:12).To putthisindifferentwordsforanimmigrationcontext,criticalreflectionmeansaskingwhetherthevaluesrevealedbypracticesofhospitalityareanaccurateimageofa societyâsself-understanding.Whatkindofethosisunveiledbyasocietyâspracticesof hospitalityandhostility?Istheethosacoherentandfairreflectionofhowthatsociety seesâitselfâintermsofmoralbeliefs,attitudes,andstandardsofbehaviourtowards others?Isasocietyâsmappingofitsresponsibilitiesâthoseitacceptsandthoseit deflectsâafairreflectionofitsself-image?Doesthismappingeffaceandignore responsibilitiesgeneratedbyhistoriesofinteraction,interdependence,andconnection?Wouldamorecoherentethos,oramorecompletemappingofresponsibilities, leadtomoreorlessopennesstostrangers?Inwhatwayscouldsuchahospitalitybe moreresponsivetothosewithwhomasocietysharessignificantconnections?
Afterhavingnotedabovethathospitalitydoesnotlenditselftograndvisionsof ethicaltheorising,suchamethodnowappearsalmostoutrageouslycomprehensive andfar-reaching.Theâempiricallysaturatedreflectiveanalysisâofarangeofdifferentsocietiesisbeyondoneacademiccareer,letaloneonebook.Wecertainlycannot caterforitthroughwhatIâmcallingarangeofâillustrativeexamplesâ.Ialsolackthe sociological,anthropological,psychological,historical,anddocumentarytraining forwhatWalkerisrecommending.Forthisreason,Ihavemadetwomethodologicalchoices.First,Itriedtostrikeadifficultbalancebetweenthegeneralandthe particularwhenitcomestoanalysingpracticesofhospitality.Ideally,analysesof moralorders,lifeworldsandtheircontestationwouldtakeplaceataclose,finegrainedlevel,allowingperhapsonesocietalcasestudytobelookedatindepth.This ishowtheworkofElenaFiddian-Qasmiyehandhervariouscollaboratorsoperatesâ bringingtogetherdetailed,ethnographicstudiesofhowhospitalityisconductedin particularlocalities,refugeecampsandcommunitiesfocusedontheglobalsouth (see BergandFiddian-Qasmiyeh,2018; Fiddian-QasmiyehandQasmiyeh,2018; Fiddian-Qasmiyeh,2020).Iwantmyexamplestoincludesuchdetailedanalyses, whicharebasicallyignoredinliberalinternationalpoliticaltheoryinfavourofthe biggerpictureofglobaljustice.
Butunlikethesemeticulousethnographies,Ialsowanttobeabletotalkaboutthe widerframeandmakemoregeneral,comparativeclaimsacrosssocietiesoftheglobal northandsouth,aswellasacrossgroupswithinsocieties.Thisidentificationofmore generaltrendsandcomparisonsisdevelopedandtakesinspirationfromtheworkof afeministtheoristofhospitality,Maurice Hamington(2010b; 2010c).However,his briefbutsignificantcontributionstothedebatedonotengagedetailedempirical examplesâlikeJacquesDerridaâswork(DerridaandDufourmantelle,2000; Derrida,2000; 2001; 2002; 2003),theconcentrationisonexegesisofothertheoristsand philosophers.
Thegeneralcomparisonofexamplesisnecessarytorevealdifferences,alternativewaysthatresponsibilitiesareacceptedanddeflected,welcomeisextendedor retracted,linesofbelongingaredrawnandredrawn,andenvironmentsaremade moreorlesshostile.Withoutacertainabstraction,wecouldnotcompareandcontrasttheculturesofwelcomeofferedtopeoplewhohavebeenviolentlydisplacedin theUS,UK,Colombia,andTurkey,forexample.Andwithoutitwecouldnotinclude illustrativeexamplesfromboththeglobalnorthandtheglobalsouth.AsIwillargue inChapter 2,oneoftheadvantagesoffocusingonhospitalityisthatitallowsthe chanceofanon-Eurocentricethicsofimmigration.Unlikeliberalnationalismand liberalcosmopolitanism,orevensomepartsofMarxism,hospitalityallowsusto exploreawidervarietyofsocieties,includingthenon-Western,theilliberalandthe non-democratic.Followingpracticesofhospitalityallowsustoexplorespacesthat donotnecessarilyrespecttheliberalvaluesdemandedinacademicdebateandyet haveoftenprovenmuchmoreopenandwelcomingtoimmigrants.
Suchcriticalcontrastsdemandacertaingenerality;theycannotrealistically includethedetail,precisionandempiricalsaturationrequiredofarelational
approachtoethics.Thisisperhapswhysomanycriticalapproachestotheethics andpoliticsofimmigrationhavefocusedonin-depthanalysisofspecificcasesof solidarity,compassion,andhospitality(seeexamplesinChapters 2 and 6).Andit isperhapswhytherehasbeennomajorattempttoprovideabook-lengthrelational ethicsrivaltothetraditionalethicsofimmigrationliterature.However,asIhavechosentoofferawiderangeofbriefillustrativeexamples,myanalysisalsooftenfocuses onimmigration policies ratherthan practices inaBourdieusiansense.Policiesare treatedashigherlevelplansandguidanceforhowhospitalitypracticesaremeant tobecarriedoutatalowerlevelofstateorsocietalauthority.However,atacertain level,policiesandpracticesblendintoeachother,formingtheconcretebehaviour, actionsandinactionsofhostsandguests.Morespecific,grounded,in-depthand detailedanalysesoflocalpracticesofhospitalityarethereforeimportantresources forChapters 3â6,evenifthecriticalanalysisprovidedbythisbookoperatesina broader,comparativecontext.
Asecondmethodologicalchoiceisthat,partlybecauseIlacktheexpertiseand detailedcontextualknowledge,Ihavebasedmycriticalanalysisintheexisting meticulousandinformedresearchofothers.Wherepossible,thisistheworkofgeographers,anthropologists,historiansandsociologists;wherenosuchresearchexists,I haveusedreportsfromjournalists,NGOsandresearchinstitutions(e.g.theMigrationPolicyInstitute),internationalorganisations(e.g.theIOMandtheUNHCR) andcharities.Thisisnotnecessarilyasecond-bestoption.Criticaltheoristsneed tobekeenlyawareoftheirownpositionality,nevermoresothanwhentheyarea whitemanseekingtorepresentcultures,societies,andcommunitiesofwhichthey havelittleornolivedexperience(suchasColombiaandTurkey).Ithereforestrive forself-reflectionandaconstantawarenessofmyâunearnedauthorityâinthisregard (Walker,2007:57).Asmuchaspossible,Ihavetriedtoincludethevoicesofthose thatconductorexperiencethepracticesofhospitality,orthathavethecontextual knowledgethatIlack,speakingforthemselves.IdothisinawarenessofthepowerI exerciseineditingandcuratingthosenarrativesanddescriptions.
Withthisinmind,threegroupsofquestionsanimatethisbookâsinvestigationinto particularnationalexamplesoftheethicsofimmigration.Thefirstgroupasks,how aretheresponsibilitiesforthoseenteringorseekingentrymappedbyparticularstates andsocieties?Thismeansasking,inpractice,whoisassignedtheresponsibilityfor welcomingwhom?Whoacceptsthatresponsibilityofhospitality,andwhen?Who deflectstheresponsibilitytowelcomeandonwhatbasis?Asocietyâspracticesofhospitalityareareflectionofthisresponsibility-mapping,sothesequestionsarecrucial toreproducingaparticularillustrativeexample.Thesecondsetofinquiries,however, askshowcompletethismapis:whatrelationalties(historical,social,cultural,political,economic)arebeingembracedinitsimmigrationpoliciesandpractices?Which arebeingdeflected,orassignedelsewhere?Andwhichareeffectivelybeingeffacedor deniedaltogether?Thethirdandfinalinquiryaskswhateachsocietyâsmappingsof responsibilityandpracticesofhospitalitytellusaboutitsethos,itsmoralcharacter andwayofbeinginrelationtoitselfandothers?Thisoffersaninsightintothepractical,everydayethicsofasociety,regardlessoftheprinciplesandvaluesitprofesses
andproclaims.Chapters 3â6 willaskthesequestions,butnotinarigidlystructure fashion,norinthisparticularorder.
Ofcourse,fromthesemethodologicaldecisions,anontologicalchoicealso becomesclear:throughoutthediscussionsofar,Ihavebeenreifyingnationalstates andsocieties.Toevenspeakofâimmigrationââwhichthe IOM(2019a:103)defines asâ[f]romtheperspectiveofthecountryofarrival,theactofmovingintoacountryotherthanoneâsowncountryofnationalityorusualresidenceââistotreatthe notionsofaâcountryofarrivalâ,aâcountryofnationalityâandthemovementacross bordersfromonetotheother,asreal,unproblematic,andmeaningfulfacts.Likewise,tospeakofanâimmigrantâassomeonewhomakesthisjourneyintoacountry thatisnottheirâusualresidenceâisalreadytoassumetheirnon-belonging.Ofcourse, criticalperspectivesinIRhavelongarguedthatthesovereignstateandthesociety itgoverns(takentogether,whattheIOMiscallingaâcountryâ)isitselfaâhistorical effect,producedinandthroughpracticeâ(Soguk,1999:38).Andoneparticularly importantpracticeofproducingastateandsocietyisthedeterminationofmembership,thosethatbelong(citizens)andthosethatdonât(immigrants).Insteadofbeing âthepoliticalexpressionofacommonlifeand(mostoften)ofanationalâfamilyââ (Walzer,1983:42),statesandsocietiesareproducedinandthroughtheirinteractions withothers.Throughprocessesofdifferentiationanddeterminationsofmembership,ofinclusionandexclusion,thenationalâfamilyâ,itshome,itsâvaluesâandway ofbeing(ethos)isconstructed.So,whilsttheinvestigationappearstostartfroma positionofreifyingthestate,thethreesetsofquestionsoutlinedaboveareaimed atuncoveringtheseconstructionsandassumptions,denaturalisingandchallenging theiracceptance.Thesamecanbesaidofallthedichotomiesthatemergeinsections ofthediscussion:stateandsociety;globalnorthandglobalsouth;hospitalityand hostility;insideandoutside.Thoughattimesitmayappearthatmyrelationalethics ofhospitalityisreifying,asserting,orworkingthroughtheseoppositions,theultimateaimistoshowtheyfallapartwheninterrogatedwiththethreesetsofquestions outlined.
StructureoftheBook Thebookwillproceed,inChapter1,byintroducingtheconventionalethicsofimmigrationdebateininternationalpoliticaltheorywhichhasignoredhospitality,with afewproblematicexceptions(Benhabib,2004; Kukathas,2016).Afterexploringthe rolethatKanthasplayedinpartsofthisdiscussion,thechapterexploresthereasonsforthislacuna,drawingoutthelimitingassumptionsandmethodsofliberal internationalpoliticaltheory.Inparticular,itconcentratesonthreeissues.First,the dominantapproachesofliberalcosmopolitanismandliberalnationalismsharea basisinliberalegalitarianism,leadingtoanextremelynarrowandlimiteddebate. Bothassumethestateasapre-existing,morallylegitimateentity;theirdisagreementboilsdowntoargumentsfor(more)openbordersand(more)closedborders (Bader,2005).Second,duetotheirliberalegalitarianism,thedebateisunashamedly
Eurocentricâonlyapplyingtosocietiesthatsharetheprinciplesofthesetheorists. South-Southimmigrationisignored,asaretheethicsofsocietiesthattakeinmost oftheworldâsforcedmigrantsâsocietiesthatoftenjustifytheirpracticesinterms ofhospitality.Athirdlimitingfactoristhedebateâstendencytoavoidtheeveryday languageandpracticalconceptualisationsinwhichtheethicsofimmigrationarediscussedpubliclyâoftenthelanguageofhospitality.Inplaceofthisâmessyâworldof emotionsandinconsistency,liberaltheoryprizesabstraction,consistency,andrigorousreasoning,limitingitsabilitytospeaktopublicdebatesandunderstandings ofimmigrationcontrol.Ultimately,theaimofliberalinternationalpoliticaltheoryistomitigatethetensionsinternaltoliberalism:theuniversalismofvaluesand theparticularismofthestate.Theintentionistofindaâmoralyardstickforjudgingâ(Hovdal-Moan,2014:71),orjustifying,inclusionandexclusion.Incontrast, hospitalityofferssomethingdifferent.
Chapter2situateshospitalitywithinatraditionofrelationalethicsthatparticularly drawsonfeministandpoststructuralapproaches.Hospitalityisintroduced,based onthephilosophyofJacquesDerrida,asexpressingthe ethos ofahomeordwelling place,defininghowwerelatetoourselvesandothers(2001:16â17).Drawingthis out,Ioutlinehospitalityasaparticularformofrelationthatinvolvesatleastthree elements:a spatial practiceofdefininginsideandoutside;theexerciseof power,tryingtoencourageandpreventothersfromcrossingtheboundarybetweenthetwo; andan emotional practiceofdefiningandenforcingfeelingsofbelongingandnonbelonging,akeyaspectofanyâhomeâ.Thisunderstandingistiedintoarelational traditionofethicsthatemergesfromunderstandingindividualsandsocietiesassocial subjects,formedthroughhistoricalandongoingconnections(Young,2013).Arelationalethicsthereforefocusesontheresponsibilitiesandobligationsproducedby theseformativeconnections,andhowâpracticesofresponsibilityâemerge,through whichweâassign,acceptorreflectâthoseobligations(Walker,2007:10).Hospitalitybecomesaparticulartypeofrelationalethics;similartocareandfriendship,but differentiatedbyitsparticularstructuralandemotionalpractices.Thisleadsintoa deeperdiscussionofhospitality,howiteludesmoreconcretedefinitionandcannot generateanormativeideal.Itonlyexistsinthosepracticesofhostility/hospitality (orâhostipitalityâ)thatcanhelpusunderstandandrevealtheethosofatimeand space.Thefinalsectionofthechapterunpacksthosecorecomponentsofhospitality:spaces(inside,outsideandthresholds),emotions(belongingandnon-belonging) andpower(inclusionandexclusion).
Arguablythemodernstateisinherentlyhostileandexclusionary,asitisconstitutedintryingtoestablishafirmdivisionbetweeninsideandoutside.Butthis hostilityoftenreliesonanevasionofrelationaltiesformedoutofaviolenthistoryofcolonialism,occupation,trade,andexploitation.Somestatesandsocieties have,however,embracedcertainobligationstowelcomeothers,duetoashared cultureandhistoricalexperience.Chapter 3 exploresthewaythathospitalityin immigrationsystemsthroughouttheworldisjustifiedasaneconomiccalculation ofthebenefitsmigrantswillbringtosociety(deHaasetal.,2020).Certaintiesare respected,primarilythoseoffamilyandkinship,butmostwelcomesaredependent
uponamigrantâsproductivity.Whatdominatesinthiscontextisanethosofcapitalaccumulation,usingexternalborderstosiftandshapetheimmigrantsthatseek entry.
Societiesseparatemoreclearlyinthewaytheytreatthoseseekingmoreurgent hospitality.Basedinaminimalembraceofinternationallegalobligations,statesin EuropeandNorthAmericahaveunderstoodthisasagenuinefirst-timeencounter, pre-emptingthestrangerâsarrivalattheborderbycontainingtheminthelesswealthy statesoftheglobalsouth(Bialasiewicz,2011).Northernstatesâresponsibilityfor creating theeconomicdeprivation,climateemergenciesandviolencethatproduces migrantpopulations,throughhistoriesofdisplacement,environmentaldegradation, colonisationandunequaltrade,areignoredoreffaced.Thishasproducedanelaborateexportingofborders,withtheEUpayingstatessuchasTurkeyandLibyato provideâprotectionâforrefugees(Bulley,2017b),whilsttheUShasturnedtoHonduras,GuatemalaandElSalvadorwithsimilardeals(HackmanandMontes,2019), displayinganethosofwhitenationalism.Responsibilityforforcedmigrantsisthereforedeniedordeflected,financiallyoutsourcedonthegroundsofhumanrightsand justice,withanyobligationtowelcomeeffectivelyexpunged.Incontrast,statessuch asJordan,Lebanon,Turkey,andColombiahavedemonstratedamuchmoregenerousethos,basedineverydayprinciplesofhospitalityandfraternity.Chapter 3 exploresthewaythatsharedculturalunderstandingsandhistoriesofexploitation andmobilityhavehelpedgeneratethiscomparativeembracingofobligationatthe externalstateborder.Suchhospitalityisdeeplyconditionalandoftenviolent,yet thereisstillasenseinwhichâuniversalâWesternunderstandingsofjusticeandhuman rightshaveattimesbecomeathreattolocalpracticesofhospitality.
WhilstChapter 3 focusedontheproductionandmaintenanceoftheexternal borderthroughpracticesofwelcominganddeflecting,Chapter 5 exploreshow internalbordersareusedtocontroltheemotionalaspectofhospitality:feelings ofbelongingandnon-belonging.Betweenthesetwo,however,Chapter 4 explores theproductionofinterstitialspacesarising between theseborders.Thesearethe spacesandpracticesof hostipitality thatresultfromtheever-thickeningexternal bordersoftheglobalnorthandtheiroutsourcingpractices,aswellasthehostile environmentsproducedbyinternalborders.Suchin-betweenspacessuchasformalrefugeecamps,informalsquats,spontaneouscamps,andEUhotspotsâexist in-betweenformsofsovereignauthority,neitherfullyinsidenoroutsideasocietyâspracticesofwelcome.Theyaremeanttobetemporary,emergencymeasures buthavebecomeapermanentfeatureofâmanagedâmigration.Ignoredorendorsed bymuchoftheethicsofimmigrationliterature,thesespacessuchasAzraqinJordanandtheâjunglesâofCalaisareanincreasinglyimportantresultofpractices ofhospitalitythatseektoseparatedifferentformsofdeservingandundeserving immigrant,deflectingresponsibilityontointernationalorganisations,NGOs,and therefugeesthemselves.Revealinganambivalentethosofracialiseddivision,these spacesencourageandensurenon-belongingthroughtemporarypracticesofhumanitarianismalongsideracialisedseparationandtheharassmentofthosedeemed undeserving.
ARelationalEthicsofImmigration Whereasthebordersofcampsandsquatscanoftenbeeasilydetermined,many internalbordersareinvisibleorsimplydonotexistforthosedeemedânativeâ. Chapter 5 thereforeturnstotheâeverydayborderingâpracticesthatconstructand policeourfeelingsofbelongingandnon-belonging,aswellasthematerialrealities thatmakelifeliveable.Itaskshowbelongingispoliced,bywhomandthroughwhat means?Howisahostileenvironmentcreatedormitigatedindifferentcontextsand practices?Whatmappingofresponsibilityisofferedbytheuseofinternalborders andwhatdoesthistellusabouttheethosofparticularsocieties?Thisisexplored throughtwocases.First,thechapterconcentratesonthechanginginternalborders ofTanzania,fromindependenceandunionin1964,whereJuliusNyereâsautocratic regimewelcomeddissidentsthroughasocialist,pan-Africanethosof ujamaa,to thegreaterandgreaterrestrictionsplacedonthosefleeingperiodicgenocidesin Burundi,beforeanunlikelyofferofcitizenshipin2007.Wetracethechangingmaps ofresponsibilityandhowtheyrelatetotheimpositionofneo-liberaleconomicpoliciesanddemocraticpoliticalchanges.Acontrastisofferedbythesecondcasestudy: theUKanditshostileenvironmentforâillegalâimmigrants,proudlyannouncedin 2012.Thisenvironmentessentiallyoperatedthroughanexplosionofeverydaybordering,inwhichtherewasanattempttodiffusehostilitythroughouttheUKsociety andpopulationbymakingitresponsibleforinternalexclusionsinvarioussectors: fromhousing,healthandeducationtodrivinglicensesandsimplemovementaround townsandcities.Theresultwasaremappingofresponsibilityforimmigrants,an aggressiveformof abandonment, includinganoutrightrejectionofresponsibility basedinanethosofracialisedautochthony.Theinternalbordersofbelonginginthe UKhavebeenweaponisedwiththeintentionofmakingcertainformsofracialised lifeunliveable.
TheanalysisuptotheendofChapter 5 haslargelyfocusedonofficial,state-based policiesandpracticesofhospitality.Butthereareahugerangeofindividuals,NGOs, communitygroupsandcharitiesthat resist thosepractices,offeringformsofsolidarity,friendship,careandcompassion.Asnotedearlier,unlikeanormativeethics thatasksfirstwhatwe ought todo,arelationalethicsstartsfromwhatwealready do, howsocieties already respondtoimmigrantsandtheirclaims.Chapter 6 thereforeaskswhatkindofaresponseispossibleinthecontextofhostileenvironments? TakinginspirationfromeverydaypracticesofwhatAbigail Taylor(2020:495)calls âdisobedienthospitalityâ,Iexploretheresponsesthataremadepossiblebysocialand politicalresistancetohostileenvironments.Howareparticularmovementsusingthe metaphorandpracticeofhospitalitytoreorientbehaviourinthefaceofconservativeandrestrictivemappingofresponsibilityforimmigrants?Whatenablesorallows suchdisobedienthospitalitiestoflourish?Idrawoutfourthemesinthisarea,each ofwhichisspecificallylinkedtoparticularpracticesintheglobalnorthandsouthâ welcomesbornofcriticalreflectionsonthenationalethosinFinlandandFrance; hospitalityemergingfromalternativemappingsofresponsibility,foundedinhistoriesofdeepconnectioninColombiaandSouthAfrica;targetedresistanceinsectors thatproduceandenforcenon-belonging,withafocusonhousinginDenmarkand theUK;andreceptionsbasedinreversalsofthetraditionalhost-guestpowerrelation,
underliningtheimpossibilityofacleanconscienceinTurkeyandGreece.Reading theseresponsesthroughtheeco-feminismofDonnaHaraway,Ithenmakethecase forseeingthemaspartofarelationalethicsâpre-figurativenormativity.Whatallfour responsesdemonstrateisacultivationoftheabilitytorespond.Thisisinsufficient toestablishanormativeethics,butcritiquesthemoralimmunityclaimedbyhostile environments.
Finally,theconclusiondrawstheargumentofthebooktogether,summarising thecentralclaimsagainstthebackdropofacomparisonwithtwocurrentlypopularapproachestotheethicsofimmigration:thosethatcallforaglobalmigration regime,asiscommoninliberalinternationalpoliticaltheory;andthosecallingfor theabolitionofborders,oftenemergingfromradicalfeminism,Marxismandpostcolonialism.Ultimately,thisprovesawayofsharpeninganddifferentiatingwhatI amclaimingforhospitalityasaneverydayrelationalethicsofimmigration.Aswell, orinstead,ofthetraditionalfocusonhowwe ought towelcome,wecanconcentrate onhowvalues alreadyare guidingourdeflectionandacceptanceofresponsibilitiestothosewithwhomwearealreadyrelatedbyvariousties.Alongsiderightsand justice,wecancriticallyexploreconcretepracticesofhospitality,care,compassion, solidarity,andfriendship.Whilstthiscannotprovidefirmclaimsabouthowspace andmobility ought tobearranged,itdoesoffersomethingdifferent.Thepermanentcritiqueofimmigrationpracticescontainedinarelationalethicsofhospitality impliesapotentialtransformationofbehaviour:acultivationofresponse-abilityfor particularimmigrantsbasedinattentivemappingsofobligation.
LiberalTheoryandtheEthicsof Immigration Thereisnowagroundswellofinterestinimmigrationpoliticsandhowitcan beunderstoodinethicalterms.Activists,politicians,campaigners,charities,policy makers,andthegeneralpublicacrosstheworldhavedemonstratedakeenawareness ofthewaysinwhichopenborders,hostileenvironments,theofferandrefusalofasylumareexperiencedbyturnsasharmful,respectful,dangerous,threatening,caring orcompassionate.And,ashasbeennoted,therightsandwrongsofthesepolicies andpracticesareofteninterpretedthroughthepseudo-metaphorofâhospitalityââ itsoffer,acceptance,orâabuseâ.Butwhatdoesâhospitalityâinvolve,whatdoesitmean inthiscontext?Isitametaphororareality,anabstractprincipleoralivedexperience andpractice,whenemployedinthecontextofastateâsimmigrationregime?These questionsarenotnecessarilystraightforwardtoanswer,andthenexttwochapters willexplorethetheoreticalissuesinvolved;thischapterwillexaminethereasonsfor hospitalityâsexclusionfromthecoreoftheethicsofimmigrationdebate;thenext chapterwilloutlinemyownunderstandingofhospitalityasaformofârelationalâ ethics.
Hospitalityandimmigrationarebothpracticesthatinvolvecrossingbordersand boundaries,fromoutsideahome,state,orcommunitytotheinside.Becauseofthis, bothhavealwaysstruggledtofindaplaceinthestudyofpolitics:aretheyproperly thefocusofinternationalrelations(IR),domesticpolitics,orboth?Unfortunately, theanswerhasmostoftenbeenâneitherâ.Instead,migrationandimmigrationhas beenlefttootherdisciplines(anthropology,geography,sociology,law)andtheinterdisciplinaryfieldofâmigrationstudiesâinwhichpolitics/IRhasplayedaminimal role.However,beyondtheincreasinglyunstabledivisionbetweenpoliticsandIR, ChrisBrownarguesthatathirdfieldhasemergedinrecentdecadeswhichhecalls âinternationalpoliticaltheoryââafieldthatsharespoliticaltheoryâsconcernswith legalandethicalissuesofrightsandjustice,butalsorecognisestheproblemsofdealingwiththeseinaworlddividedbydifferentsovereignjurisdictions(Brown,2002: 11).Sometimescalledânormativeâtheory(Cochran,1999)orâinternationalethicsâ (Shapcott,2010),thisfieldtakestheissueofinclusionandexclusionfromthestate asacentralconcern(Brown,2002:10).
Giventhisfocus,internationalpoliticaltheorywouldappeartobeavaluable resourceforpolicymakers,studentsandactivistsinterestedinhospitalityandimmigrationethics.Unfortunately,thishasnotbeenthecaseandthischapterwilllookat why.Formostofitshistory,scholarsstressingtheâinternationalâpartofinternational ARelationalEthicsofImmigration.DanBulley,OxfordUniversityPress.ŠDanBulley(2023). DOI:10.1093/oso/9780192890009.003.0002
politicaltheoryhavefocusedmoreonpracticesandpoliciesthatinvolveWestern statesextendingtheirpowerintotheglobalsouth,suchashumanitarianism,developmentaid,thejusticeofwarandmilitaryintervention(forrecenttextbookexamples, seeBell,2010;Amstutz,2013;Lang,2015;Hutchings,2018).Incontrast,thosescholarscomingfrompoliticaltheoryandphilosophywho were interestedintheethicsof immigration,struggledduringthe1980sand1990stopublishtheirwork;theacademicfieldsimplydidnotseethesubjectasworthyoftheoreticalorphilosophical discussion(Cole,2014:600).
Thenowburgeoningfieldofimmigrationethicsisthereforecomparativelynew andtendstobedominatedbyscholarsemphasisingthe politicaltheory aspectof internationalpoliticaltheory(seeSeglow,2005andFine,2013forusefulsummaries). Eitherway,itcontinuestolargelyignoretheconceptandpracticeofhospitality.The firstsectionofthischapterwillexploresomeofthemarginalandlimitedwaysin whichhospitality has appearedinthefield,especiallyviathose international politicaltheoristsinfluencedbytheworkofImmanuelKant.Thesecondsectionwill accountforthereasonsbehindhospitalityâsmarginalisation,showinghowinternationalpoliticaltheoryhaslimiteditsownabilitytospeaktopublicdebatesabout everydayethics.
HospitalityandInternationalPoliticalTheory Viewedinahistoricalcontext,itisquitesurprisingthathospitalityplayssucha minorroleininternationalpoliticaltheory.GarrettWallace Brown(2013:100â105) notesthattheconceptandpracticeofhospitalityhasbeencentraltoacosmopolitan ethicsofinternationalrightsandobligationssincetheancientGreekphilosopher Diogenes,fromthe4thCentury BC.AmidstthebirthofmodernEurope,thenaturallawtraditioninheritedthisconcern,makingitacentralpillaroftheirlegaland moraltheorising.FromFranciscodeVitoriainthe16thCenturytoImmanuelKant inthelate18thCentury,arighttohospitalitywasacoreprinciplethathelpedtheoristsnavigateethicallybetweentheemergingglobalorderingofpowerinseparate statesandtheabsenceofasharedprincipleofjustice(Cavallar,2002).AsEuropean statesemerged,traded,fought,madepeace,andcolonisedmuchoftheglobalsouth, naturallawtheoristsarguedforaminimaluniversalrightofEuropeanstovisitand travelthroughotherterritorieswithoutsufferingthehostilityandviolenceoflocal inhabitants.Afterall,withoutsucharight,howcouldEuropeansjustifytheirshowingupuninvitedinSouthAmerica,Asia,andAfrica,priortotheirdominationand exploitationoftheseterritories?
Althoughnaturallawremainsakeypartofthehistoryofinternationalpoliticaltheorising,thelikesofVitoria,FranciscodeSuĂĄrez,HugoGrotiusandSamuelPufendorf
arerarelyreferencepointsinmoderndiscussionsofimmigration(exceptionsinclude Sager,2016 and Glanville,2020).Instead,whenhospitalitydoesmakeanappearanceinimmigrationethics,theprimary(andoftenonly)philosophicalreferenceis toImmanuelKant(e.g.Benhabib,2004;Shapcott,2010;Kukathas,2016).Expressed moststraightforwardlyinhis1795essay,âPerpetualPeaceâ,andappearingasthethird definitiveconditionofpacificrelationsafterrepublicangovernmentandafederationofstatesboundbyinternationallaw(Kant,1991:98â105),Kantspecifiesthat hospitalityisauniversalcosmopolitanright:
Inthiscontext,hospitality meanstherightofastrangernottobetreatedwithhostilitywhenhearrivesonsomeoneelseĘźsterritory.Hecanindeedbeturnedaway, ifthiscanbedonewithoutcausinghisdeath,buthemustnotbetreatedwithhostility,solongashebehavesinapeaceablemannerintheplacehehappenstobe in.Thestrangercannotclaimthe rightofaguest tobeentertained,forthiswould requireaspecialfriendlyagreementwherebyhemightbecomeamemberofthe nativehouseholdforacertaintime.Hemayonlyclaimarightofresort,forallmen areentitledtopresentthemselvesinthesocietyofothersbyvirtueoftheirrightto communalpossessionoftheearthĘźssurface.
(Kant,1991:105â106)
AsMark Franke(2019:3)observes,whatKantoutlinedlateinthe18thCentury isasituationnotfarfromtheimmigrationlawsandprofessedpracticesofmost statesofthecontemporaryworld,institutionalisedinthelegalandpoliticalprinciplesthatfoundedtheUnitedNations.Thismeansthat,today,Kantdoesnotappear particularlyrevolutionary.Ashasbeenwidelynoted,mostfamouslybyJacques Derrida(2001),Kantâsprincipleofhospitalityisprofoundlylimited.Atbestitcanbe describedasaâminimalandnegativeconceptofhospitalityâ(Kleingeld,1998:75). Thestrangerhasnopositiverighttobewelcomed,onlyânottobetreatedwithhostilityâ.Kantdoesnotsaywhathemeansbyhostility,butwecanassumeitmeanssome formofphysicalviolenceasitdoesnotruleoutthestrangerbeingâturnedawayâ. Arefusalofentryisperfectlyacceptableaslongasitdoesnotcausethestrangerâs âdeathâ.š Inotherwords,thisrighttohospitalityisarightto seekasylum,andnota righttofreemovementingeneral.
Infact,therighttoseekasylummentionedintheUniversalDeclarationofHuman Rights(UDHR)andtheobligationof non-refoulement agreedinthe1951Refugee Conventionand1967Protocol,is more hospitablethanKantâscosmopolitanright. Non-refoulement meansthatsignatoriesoftheConventionarebarredfromturning awaythosewithaâwell-foundedfearofpersecutionâ(UNGA,1951:Article1),not onlythosethatarelikelytodieasaresultoftheirexclusion.Meanwhile,evenwhen
š Pauline Kleingeld(1998:77)arguesthatthewordKantusestodescribethegroundsonwhichpeople cannotbeturnedaway, Untergang,whilstnormallytranslatedasâdestructionâorâdeathâ,canbeinterpreted toincludeâmentaldestructionorincapacitatingphysicalharmâ.Evenso,thisismoreconstrictivethana âfearofpersecutionâ.AdamKnowleshasarguedthatUntergang oughttobeinterpretedmuchmorebroadly asaâdownfallâ,orâwhateveropposeshumanflourishingâ(2017:348â349).
Kantâsrighttohospitalityisgranted,itisonlyaârightofresortââtoâpresentthemselvesinthesocietyofothersâ,tohavetheirpresencetolerated.Therightofresort bringswithitnoentitlementtostayintheterritorylongterm,nortoclaimfood, clothingorshelter(Kant,1991:126).Inotherwords,Kantâsnotionofhospitality allowspeoplewhowouldotherwisedietocrossastateâsborderstosafety,butthey havenolegitimaterighttoanythingthatwould sustain theirlife,normakethatlife bearable,oncetheygetthere.² Therightstosuchsustenancearetherightsofaguest, whichcanonlybegrantedbyaspecificâfriendlyagreementâbetweenstates.Thisis apeculiarhospitalitythen:thestrangerisspecificallybarredfrombeingtreatedasa guest.Incontrast,theRefugeeConventionobligesstatestoprovideeducation,public relief,assistanceandsocialsecurity(UNGA,1951:Articles22â24)tothoseseeking asylum.
Viewedinthelightofcurrentlegalarrangements,itisnotsurprisingthatKantâs visionofhospitalityhasplayedalimitedroleinimmigrationethicsdebates.In responsetothesekindsofcriticisms,however,Kantâsdefendershavecorrectly pointedoutthathewasrespondingtoaverydifferentsetofhistoricalcircumstances thanthoseofthe1951Convention.WhilstKantwascertainlyconcernedwiththose fleeingpersecution(hencetheârightofresortâ),in1795hewasalsoarguing against themostpredatoryandmurderouspoliciesofEuropeancolonialism,whichwere buildingtowardstheircrescendo(Niesen,2007; Brown,2010; Meckstroth,2017). KantthereforecondemnstheâappallinglygreatâinjusticevisiteduponLatinAmerica, Africa,andIndiabyâthecivilisedstatesofourcontinentâŚinvisiting foreigncountries andpeoples(whichintheircaseisthesameasconqueringthem)â(Kant,1991:106). EspeciallyinLatinAmerica,thegenocidalviolenceoftheSpanish conquistadors had beenjustifiedonthegroundsthattheSpanishhadbeenmetwithhostilitybythe nativepopulation.Suchhostilitycouldthereforerighteouslybepunishedbecauseit brokethelawsofhospitality(Baker,2010).Inthe16thCentury,naturallawscholar, FranciscodeVitoriahadalreadyjustifiedtheviolenceofcolonialconquestonsimilar grounds(Cavallar,2008:186â192).Therighttovisitothercountriesandreceivea hospitablewelcomehadthereforebeen used bythegreatEuropeanpowersinorder tofurthertheirImperialcampaigns.
InthecontextofEuropeancolonialism,Kantâsseverelimitationofhospitality appearsfullyjustified.AsBrownputsit,farfrompromotingâxenophobicnationalismâ,thislimitationwascrucialforestablishingaâmutualconsistencybetweenvisitor andvisitedâinwhichbothhaddutiesandobligations(Brown,2010:313â314).However,thereisadangerhereofwhitewashingKantâsethicalvisionasanti-colonial andthereforeanti-racist.ItisimportanttonotethatKantdidnotenvisagehisinitial rightofhospitalityasentirelyuniversal.Althoughhewasmoreforthrightinhiscondemnationofcolonialismthanmanyinthenaturallawtradition(Cavallar,2008),he maintainedastrictracialhierarchyinhisgeographicalandanthropologicalwritings.
² Knowlesofferstheexactoppositeinterpretation,claimingthatKantâshospitalityisâmuchmorecapaciousâthanthemodernprincipleofnon-refoulement(seeKnowles,2017:350).This,however,isbasedon adeeplyproblematicreadingofâPerpetualPeaceâ,includingtheclaimthatKantimposesapositiveduty toactasagoodhostâKantreferstonosuchdutyinhiscosmopolitanright.