Unconditional hospitality: HIV, ethics and the refugee 'problem'

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Public Health
• Philosophy

Background:

• In 2000, 22 million refugees globally, with 6 million HIV positive, faced displacement.
• New Zealand's acceptance of HIV positive refugees from sub-Saharan Africa is challenged by negative public and political sentiment.
• Fears surrounding contagion and 'racial miscegenation' impact refugee reception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the fragile position of HIV positive refugees in New Zealand.
• To explore the ethical and political implications of refugee resettlement using Jacques Derrida's concept of unconditional hospitality.
• To examine the conflict between becoming new citizens and facing threatened subjecthood.

Main Methods:

• Philosophical analysis of Jacques Derrida's concept of unconditional hospitality.
• Examination of socio-political factors influencing refugee policy in New Zealand.
• Case study approach focusing on HIV positive refugees from sub-Saharan Africa.

Main Results:

• The concept of unconditional hospitality challenges selective refugee resettlement.
• HIV positive refugees' subjecthood is threatened by public health fears and political opinions.
• Ethics and politics necessitate a continuous, questioning response to refugee crises.

Conclusions:

• The position of HIV positive refugees in New Zealand is precarious, caught between integration and exclusion.
• Derrida's philosophy underscores the ethical imperative for open-ended hospitality.
• Addressing refugee status requires a deeper engagement with fears surrounding contagion and identity.