Refugees and the myth of the borderless world

Abstract

What is the nature and scale of the global refugee ‘crisis’? How is the ‘crisis’ manifest in the Asia-Pacific region?. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the international regime for the protection of refugees? What legal obligations do states have to provide asylum, and has Australia lived up to its obligations? Is the Howard Government’s ‘Pacific Solution’ justifiable or sustainable? How has Australian refugee policy changed over time, and why? Is Australia really leading the international community in support for refugees? These questions are fundamental to contemporary debates about the evolving global order, Australia’s role in the world, and the nature of the Australian polity. In this new Keynote, titled Refugees and the Myth of the Borderless World, leading Australian specialists on international relations, refugees, and migration address these issues as a contribution to more informed and ethical public debate