Joseph H. Carens FRSC (born 1945) is a Canadian-American political scientist. He is a professor at the University of Toronto. His research interests are mainly focused on contemporary political theory, especially on issues related to immigration and political community. Carens is an advocate of open borders, and an ethical theorist in the field of immigration.

Early life and education

Carens was born in the United States as a descendant of Irish Catholic immigrants. He was educated at the College of the Holy Cross, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1966. He then attended Yale University, where he obtained a M.Phil. in religious studies in 1970 then a second M.Phil. in political science in 1972. In 1977, he received his Ph.D. from Yale. In 1985, Carens immigrated to Canada from the United States and earned dual citizenship.

Partial bibliography