The Human Rights of Non-citizens 19 result of that work is uncertain, the process of re-centering holds significant promise on its own. conclusion The chapters in this book together make a compelling case for the rights of noncitizens, examining the failures of our current moment, imagining new forms of belonging, and thinking critically about approaches that might bring us closer to the promise of universal enjoyment of rights. Thus, most directly, this book is about the laws and policies that affect those who are not members of a political community that can effectively protect their rights, and why – and how – those rights might be better protected. More broadly, however, it is a book about why this matters. From the rise in populist governments around the world to the spread of disinformation and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more evident than ever that the rights of all depend on the protection of the rights of the most vulnerable. As Brysk argues, “we are only as free as our weakest neighbor.”65 Exploring new rhetorics of relationship may provide at least a starting point for that conversation. Whether empathy, care, or solidarity, finding new ways to relate across metaphysical and geographic borders may help us to challenge the zero-sum strategies of political leaders seeking to consolidate power using populist techniques.66 These new ways of relating can contribute to a foundation on which we can build political arguments for more effective ways to address the injustice of borders. 65 66 Brysk, “‘Why We Care’,” p. 168. S. Scholz, Political Solidarity (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008). https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108914994 Published online by Cambridge University Press