What is a Refugee?

With the arrival in Europe of over a million refugees and asylum seekers in 2015, a sense of panic began to spread within the continent and beyond. What is a Refugee? puts these developments into historical context, injecting much-needed objectivity and nuance into contemporary debates over what is to be done. Refugees have been with us for a long time -- although only after the Great War did refugee movements commence on a large scale -- and are ultimately symptoms of the failure of the system of states to protect all who live within it. Providing a terse user's guide to the complex legal status of refugees, Maley argues that states are now reaping the consequences of years of attempts to block access to asylum through safe and 'legal' means. He shows why many mooted 'solutions' to the 'problem' of refugees -- from military intervention to the warehousing of refugees in camps -- are counterproductive, creating environments ripe for the growth of extremism among people who have been denied all hope. In a globalised world, he concludes, wealthy states have the resources to protect refugees.And, as his historical account shows, courageous individuals have treated refugees in the past with striking humanity. States today could do worse than emulate them.

About the Author :
William Maley is Professor of Diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University. He has been a Visiting Research Fellow in the Refugee Studies Programme at the University of Oxford, and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

Review :
'Debunking some of the popular assumptions about the refugee crisis, with a look into the causes behind the flight from one's homeland ... Maley raises the vexing question of why we consider people in a developed and stable country entitled to all the benefits of modernity, whereas others are expected to put up with murder, pillage and mayhem.' 'With the arrival in Europe of over a million refugees and people seeking asylum in 2015, a sense of panic began to spread within the continent and beyond. 'What Is a Refugee?' puts these developments into historical context, injecting much-needed objectivity and nuance into contemporary debates over what is to be done.' 'This book is an eye-opener. It is an elegant, expert account of the history of refugees, their formal rights, and their shrinking prospects. It will leave no reader unmoved, and no conscience untroubled.' 'William Maley has done the world a great service--introducing one of the key questions of our times with rich insight and clarity. His book is a thoroughly readable and essential exploration of refugee issues. I learnt a huge amount from his writing, and I highly recommend it.' 'An excellent introduction for the general reader on refugee issues and the national and international political context in which they are located. Lucidly and fluently written, Maley's deep and humane understanding and wide-reading across history and literature shines through on every page.' 'A compelling, engaging and short book aimed at non-specialists who are interested in understanding the roots and complexities of the refugee crises. A pleasure to read.' 'This timely, informative and highly accessible book tackles the thorny issue of what happens to people fleeing fear and repression around the world. Maley cuts through technical jargon and legal terminology to bring to the lay reader an understanding of how some of the key challenges of refugee protection are being managed in the twenty-first century. Highly recommended.'