Christian Barry

Australian National University; Ethics & International Affairs Editorial Board; Global Ethics Fellow Alumnus

Christian Barry is professor of philosophy in the School of Philosophy at the Research School of Social Sciences (RSSS), Australian National University, and co-editor of the Journal of Political Philosophy.

His research focuses on ethical theory, philosophy of action, and international justice. His recent work includes a book with Sanjay Reddy, International Trade and Labour Standards: A Proposal for Linkage (Columbia University Press, 2008), and articles in Philosophy & Public Affairs, Journal of Political Philosophy, Journal of Moral Philosophy, Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Review of International Studies, International Affairs, and Carnegie Council's journal, Ethics & International Affairs.

His latest book, Responding to Global Poverty: Harm, Responsibility and Agency, (co-authored with Gerhard Øverland) was published by Cambridge University Press in 2016. He currently holds an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant for the project The Ethical Responsiblities of Consumers.

Prior to joining the ANU, Barry was a program officer at Carnegie Council (Justice & the World Economy), and editor of Ethics & International Affairs, a consultant to the Human Development Report Office at the United Nations Development Programme, and a lecturer in politics and international relations at University College Dublin.

He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University, where he was a fellow at the Center for Law and Philosophy.

Featured Work

JUN 15, 2020 Podcast

The Ethics of the Coronavirus Lockdown, with Christian Barry

Due to COVID-19, significant restrictions have been placed on freedoms to move about in many nations. Philosopher Christian Barry explores how the costs of these ...

MAY 16, 2019 Podcast

Global Ethics Weekly: Polarization, Media, & the Trump Presidency, with Christian Barry

Christian Barry, professor of philosophy at Australian National University, shares his perspective on the political climate, journalism, and polarization in the United States. What responsibility ...

Refugees on the move. CREDIT: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/diariveu/27777367306/sizes/o/"> La Veu del País Valencià</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">CC</a>)

JAN 20, 2017 Article

Virtual Citizenship for Refugees: A Proposal

At last, a practical, humane, and cost-effective proposal to help cope with the nearly 20 million refugees and asylum seekers worldwide, from philosophers Christian Barry and ...

Jolly Roger Pirate Flag. CREDIT: <a href="http://bit.ly/1KdKK8H" target="_blank">Josu </a><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">(CC)</a>.

APR 27, 2015 Article

Is Downloading Really Stealing? The Ethics of Digital Piracy

You wouldn't steal a car, you wouldn't steal a handbag, you wouldn't steal a television. But what about downloading pirated films? Is intellectual property infringement ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/razowsky/2630973447/">Flo Razowsky</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>)

OCT 10, 2013 Podcast

Anna Stilz on Occupancy Rights

Any attempts to tackle the problems of long-term refugees will have to address occupancy rights. Why do we have the right to live in a ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8387/8510182328_61c6283152_b.jpg">Donna Burton</a>, (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>)

SEP 30, 2013 Podcast

Arash Abizadeh on Immigration

As the U.S. moves toward a major overhaul of its immigration system, many of those most significantly affected are being left out of the ...

APR 30, 2013 Podcast

Kim Ferzan on Preventive Justice

Criminal justice is normally retrospective: You can only imprison someone for crimes they’ve already committed. But what should we do about individuals who clearly ...

DEC 3, 2012 Podcast

Corey Brettschneider on Hate Speech

How should states deal with hate speech? In the U.S., the prevailing attitude is that hate speech should be protected. In other liberal democracies, ...

OCT 3, 2012 Podcast

Jon Quong on Self-Defense

What conditions make it permissible for one person to kill another? And what does it mean if the theories that we've used as the basis ...

CREDIT: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/national_museum_of_australia/5056220012/">National Museum of Australia</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en">CC</a>).

OCT 1, 2012 Article

Policy Innovations Digital Magazine (2006-2016): Commentary: Boat Migrants to Australia Deserve Their Refugee Rights

Asylum seekers who come to Australia by boat have been accused of jumping the queue in the immigration process, but are they really gaining an ...