Political Philosophy Podcast THE ETHICS OF ASYLUM with Rebecca Buxton
Mar 22, 2025
Rebecca Buxton, a Lecturer in social and political philosophy at the University of Bristol, dives deep into the ethics of asylum and refugee policies in the UK. She critiques the disconnection between political philosophy and public sentiment, highlighting the dignity of refugees. The conversation also tackles the pervasive misinformation in politics and its impact on public perception. Buxton questions the expectation of gratitude from asylum seekers and addresses the challenges LGBTQ refugees face, advocating for a more compassionate and nuanced view of immigration.
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Political Philosophy's Role
- Political philosophy can offer conceptual tools to analyze new policies, like temporary protection for refugees.
- It helps explain why such policies are wrong and why we have obligations to do better.
Centering the Refugee
- Current debates center on the host country's perspective, neglecting the refugee's experience.
- Centering the refugee's perspective is crucial for a moral analysis of asylum and immigration.
Labour's Stance on Immigration
- The Labour government has accepted the premise that too many immigrants are entering the UK.
- This premise is unjustified and they struggle to explain why reducing immigration is good.
