Confronting Chaos: Migration Law Responds to Images of Disorder

This paper argues that in liberal nations migration law orders chaotic images and is an important site for the construction of national identities. Empirical illustrations are drawn primarily from Australia, but the thesis is applicable to all immigrant nations and also provides insights for the “Old World”. The argument proceeds by first examining the role of migration laws in liberal democratic societies. Building on this framework, it then looks at how Australian migration law responds to images of disorder outside the nation. Finally, it considers how migration law addresses disorder within the nation by reflecting a coherent picture of Australian national identity. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.