BORDER POLITICS follows human rights barrister Julian Burnside as he traverses the globe examining the harsh treatment of refugees metered out by most Western democracies. Seventy years after the world constructed international conventions to ensure the horrors of World War II wouldn't be repeated, Burnside finds it terrifying to see many western political leaders exploiting fears around border protection to extend political power. He questions whether the West has lost its moral compass adopting ideas that reject humanity and undermine democracy. He concludes this erosion of human rights poses a threat to the very democratic values that define Western society.