Who cares what the people think? Public attitudes and refugee protection in Europe. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruhs, Martin
• Is Part Of: Politics, philosophy & economics. Volume 21:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 313
• Page End: 344
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: public attitudes -- asylum -- refugee protection -- political feasibility -- Europe; Social sciences and ethics -- Periodicals; Philosophy and social sciences -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1470594X221085701
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-594X

Abstract

This paper discusses why and how public attitudes should matter in regulating asylum and refugee protection in rich democracies, with a focus on Europe. Taking a realistic approach, I argue that public views constitute a soft feasibility constraint on effective and sustainable policies towards asylum seekers and refugees, and that a failure to take seriously and understand the attitudes of the host country's population can have a very damaging effect on refugee protection and migrants' rights in practice. Bringing together insights from political philosophy, the politics of asylum, and research on public attitudes, I develop my argument by discussing why 'what the people think' should matter in asylum and refugee polices; how public views can and should matter given the well-known challenges with measuring attitudes and policy preferences; and what the prevailing public views might mean for the reform of asylum and refugee policies in Europe.