The Distinction between Refugees and Immigrants

What is it about?

This paper discusses different viewpoints on whether countries should be able to reject immigrants and refugees: Nationalists think countries have the right to control their borders and decide who can come in; Cosmopolitans believe everyone should have the right to move to another country; Cosmo-Nationalists are in between, thinking countries can decide about voluntary immigrants but must accept refugees. The paper is based on a survey done in 26 countries, showing that the strongest group is Nationalists (44%), followed by Cosmopolitans (31%), and Cosmo-Nationalists (15%). The authors use a statistical analysis to understand the characteristics of these groups. They find that: Cosmopolitans are often women, younger people, and care more about human rights. They are less attached to their own country; Nationalists are the opposite, usually older, more attached to their country, and less supportive of human rights. Cosmopolitans often come from countries that have signed international treaties and have not been threatened much in the past, while Nationalists come from countries with the opposite characteristics.

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