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

With restrictive immigration policies, increased interdiction, and the detention of asylum seekers, it is clear that Canada's approach to border control has shifted in recent years. Yet such practices are just the latest in a long and complex national history. Canadian Liberalism and the Politics of Border Control sheds light on the first century of Canada's efforts to control its borders, framing pivotal moments within a long-standing but often overlooked debate over the rights of non-citizens. Anderson provides valuable insights into contemporary liberal-democratic control by demonstrating that today's more restrictive approach reflects traditions deeply embedded within liberal democracies. "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. Canadian Liberalism and the Politics of Border Control willhave strong interdisciplinary reach, appealing to academics, policy-makers, and immigration and refugee advocates." This book chronicles the first century of Canadian border control, revealing how policies have been influenced by changing perceptions of the rights of non-citizens.