How can we deal with migration to Germany today? What responsibilities should we assign to our state and society regarding migrants not protected under the refugee convention? Chaired by Reinhard Merkel ML (Hamburg) and Julian Nida-Rümelin (München), member of the BBAW, we discuss normative criteria that may guide answers to these questions from a juridical and philosophical perspective.

Migration is a response to global differences in life chances to which the success of the European economic and political nation-state model has contributed (Thomas Faist). The right and ability to migrate are also subject to global inequalities. “Marketization of citizenship” (Ayelet Shachar) and the increasing social separation of economic elites (Olivier Godechot) are features to be discussed.

Statehood and citizenship are part of the framework for collective struggles over the distribution of wealth and the establishment of social protection for the poor. The European Union has extended some rights to EU citizens beyond national borders but not established yet a legal mechanism for dealing with non-EU migration (Martin Nettesheim). Given the limitations of regulating migration nationally or by bilateral treaties, a tension has arisen between jurisdiction and political demand (Daniel Thym). It remains open what kind of institutional multilateral response to global inequalities and migration is desirable and will be possible.

The symposium will be held in English. It is sponsored by Stiftung Mercator.

ML – Member of the Leopoldina