Just Mobilities: Using Psychological Science to Inform the Future of Migration Policy

Scope of justice is the extent to which a person's beliefs about fairness and justice apply to others on the basis of their inclusion in one's moral community. Scope of justice narrows in times of societal conflict, making individuals less willing to share resources, and decreasing collaboration and trust. Governments and policy makers have a direct responsibility in shaping the scope of justice and interpersonal trust in society through the use of political narratives and their actions. When fear and threat-based narratives are activated, narrowing people's scope of justice, immigrants are criminalized and excluded. When desire and need-based narratives are activated, widening people's scope of justice by boosting interpersonal and institutional trust, political narratives normalize movement and support creating safe pathways for mobility. This paper explains a framework for just mobilities based on theories of narrative psychology, moral inclusion, and desire-based understanding of immigration. Evidence-based recommendations follow for policies and practices at the global, federal, state, local, and individual levels.