International Migration of Children for a Better Life: Human Rights, State Power, and Nations' Duties...

— —

James G. Dwyer (Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law, Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law, William & Mary Law School)

International Migration of Children for a Better Life

Human Rights, State Power, and Nations' Duties

James G. Dwyer (Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law, Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law, William & Mary Law School)

$229.95

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Oxford University Press Inc
25 October 2025

International human rights law; Citizenship & nationality law

In a world where a child's fate is often determined by the arbitrary circumstances of their birth, International Migration of Children for a Better Life challenges the legal status quo. The book advances a dramatically different vision of children's relationship to nations and to the international legal order, one that provides theoretical grounding for a right of children to escape life-threatening circumstances, rather than waiting for change in their home environment.

By offering a normative critique of existing international law, the book suggests novel arguments for enabling children to migrate more freely and escape adverse environments. It argues that the conventional policy response to tragic circumstancesDLwar, famine, natural disaster, which prioritizes transformation of local conditions so people can remain in place or quickly return, is less appropriate for children than for adults. Children's needs are more urgent.

The book arrives at several recommendations, backed by a theory of children's rights: eliminate citizenship for children altogether, disallow states from inhibiting children's departure, prioritize children over adults in immigration policy, and evacuate children en masse from nations that cannot protect them. Presenting a child-centered perspective on perennial issues in immigration law and political theory, International Migration of Children for a Better Life is a must read for legal academics, political philosophers, practitioners, and policy experts alike.

By: James G. Dwyer (Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law Arthur B. Hanson Professor of Law William & Mary Law School)
Imprint: Oxford University Press Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 226mm, Width: 160mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 590g
ISBN: 9780197752302
ISBN 10: 0197752306
Pages: 312
Publication Date: 25 October 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

James Dwyer received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Stanford University and his law degree from Yale Law School. He has taught at William & Mary Law School for twenty-five years, having previously taught at Harvard Law School, Chicago-Kent College of Law, and University of Wyoming College of Law. His courses have included international law, youth law, family law, law and social justice, and trusts and estates. Dwyer has published numerous books and articles theorizing about children's rights. He has also advocated for children as a lawyer in family courts, author of amicus briefs, and ""next friend"" in federal court litigation.