The theory of recognition and the ethics of immigration

This thesis examines the theory of recognition and applies it in the context of Australian immigration laws, policies and procedures. Part One (Chapter One) of the thesis addresses the question "What is recognition?", before turning to Axel Honneth's theory of recognition and the connections between his theory and other theories. In Part Two (Chapters Two, Three and Four), I consider a number of challenges that have been raised against Honneth's theory by Patchen Markell, Kelly Oliver and Nancy Fraser and I defend Honneth's theory against each of these challenges. I also raise my own questions about Honneth's account of the connection between esteem, achievement and social solidarity, and I consider whether questions of recognition of lack of recognition must be posed within the boundaries of a nation state. -- In Part Three (Chapters Five and Six), I apply Honneth's theory in the context of Australian immigration. I argue that recognition in terms of love, respect and esteem can be linked to the categories of family, humanitarian and skilled/economic migration and I contend that there is a close relationship between social frameworks of recognition and the mechanisms of social inclusion or exclusion that occur in immigration laws, policies and practice. I claim that interpreting the context of immigration in this way helps us to understand both its social function and its normative significance. In the final chapter, I revisit the challenges to Honneth's theory and reconsider them in the context of the immigration policies. I argue that Honneth's account of the role of struggles for recognition and its connection to social progress is particularly useful for understanding the "moral grammar' and issues of justice that are at stake.