Canadian Liberalism and the Politics of Border Control, 1867-1967 - 9780774823937

As a liberal democracy built on immigration, Canada has long had a
reputation for inclusiveness. Since 9/11, however, this reputation has
been clouded by restrictive immigration policies, increased
interdiction, and the detention of asylum seekers arriving on
Canada's shores. Moreover, public debate over the arrival of
non-citizens -- especially those seeking entry through unofficial
channels -- is now often framed within a security discourse that is
used to justify a more restrictive approach. These developments are not
surprising in the current context, but as Anderson illustrates, they
are also nothing new.



Canadian Liberalism and the Politics of Border Control sheds
light on the complex history of Canada's response to immigrants
and refugees during its first century -- a century that saw the
imposition of the Chinese Head Tax, the turning away of the Komagata
Maru, the rejection of Jewish refugees during the interwar period, the
internment of Japanese-Canadians during the Second World War, and the
post-war development of a new human rights-based discourse. Framing
these and other pivotal moments in the wider context of how the rights
of immigrants and refugees have been debated and pursued in Canadian
politics, Anderson demonstrates that today's more restrictive
approach reflects traditions deeply embedded within liberal
democracies. His insights into Canadian immigration and refugee history
offer valuable lessons for understanding the nature of contemporary
liberal-democratic control policies.Christopher G. Anderson is an assistant professor in
the Department of Political Science at Wilfrid Laurier University.