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A Right to Return to Earth? Emigration Policy for the Lunar State

2021; Springer International Publishing; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1007/978-3-030-81388-8_12

2199-3890

James S.J. Schwartz,

Climate Change and Geoengineering

I argue that citizens of future lunar states should enjoy the right to emigrate. The lethality of the space environment may result in lunar settlements pursuing oppressive and illiberal norms, policies, and laws in order to resolve societal problems. A right to emigrate, which for the foreseeable future is tantamount to a right to return to Earth, has individual and societal value. For individuals, the right establishes a legal path for lunar citizens wishing to flee from averse social or political circumstances. For the lunar state, protecting the right to emigrate disincentivizes the pursuit of policies which give rise to desires to flee. After presenting the case for the right to emigrate, I respond to several objections, including an objection derived from the "brain drain" debate over terrestrial migration, as well as the objection that protecting the right to emigrate would be financially ruinous for the lunar state.