Lecture on Imagining a World Without Border Controls

Introduction

• Proposal: Envision a world without visas, passports, or border controls in 100 years.
• Key Argument: Current border controls reduce freedom; removing them would increase it.

Historical Context of Border Controls

• Border controls are a recent development.
  • In 1911, Europe did not require passports or visas for movement.
  • Internal controls existed in Empires (e.g., Russian Empire).
• First World War accelerated the adoption of border controls.
• Economic inequality and population growth concerns contributed to stricter border controls.

Population Growth and Economic Inequality

• Key historical population milestones:
  • 1 billion in 1820
  • 2 billion in 1926
  • Successive billions every 12-14 years until reaching 7 billion by 2011.
• Population growth has slowed down:
  • Predictions suggest stabilization around 10 billion by 2083.
• Economic inequality between countries is decreasing:
  • Average income gaps are shrinking (e.g., China vs. USA).

Immigration Controls Ineffectiveness

• Ineffectiveness of immigration controls:
  • Controls cause inconvenience but do not stop migration.
  • Illegal immigration often fills gaps left by legal restrictions.
• Case Study: United States and Mexican immigrants
  • High return rate of Mexican immigrants who find limited opportunities.

Fear and Reality of Immigration

• Public Perception: Fear of being "swamped" by immigrants.
• Reality: Census data often overestimate population due to unrecorded exits.
• Argument: Immigration controls may not be necessary in the future due to slowing population growth and reduced economic disparity.

Future Possibility

• Analogy: Women's suffrage 150 years ago seemed as unlikely as a world without border controls now.
• Progress Argument: Change requires imagining possibilities and advocating for them.

Conclusion

• Envision a future with free movement similar to the past.
• Encourage debate and actions towards dismantling current immigration controls.
• Call to Action: Work towards a world where freedom of movement is achievable and beneficial.