Books & Monographs

Publication details

The Role of the State in Migration Control: The Legitimacy Gap and Moves towards a Regional Model

Publisher: Brill Nijhoff
ISBN:
Edition number:
Release year: 2016

Author(s) details

Aoife McMahon

Publication description

Link to the publication on the Publisher’s catalogue
http://www.brill.com/products/book/role-state-migration-control
Keywords:
migration
Abstract:
This research questions the seemingly ossified premise that states have an absolute discretion to control international migration. Applying Max Weber’s theories of legitimacy, it determines that while states have certain traditionally legitimate functions, migration control, as distinct from the determination of citizenship, is not one such function. Measures of migration control must thus be justified on a rational-legal basis, that is, on a minimal evidential basis. Acknowledging the many obstacles states face in carrying out this legitimising exercise, it is suggested that a supranational approach at the regional level is the most sustainable long-term model, with an ultimate aim of achieving inter-regional cooperation on migration management on the basis of equality between regions.