Palestinian Refugee Repatriation: Global Perspectives

by Michael Dumper (Editor)

Overview

The repatriation of Palestinians is a highly topical issue, and a critical component of any future peace process for Israel/Palestine. Until now, the mechanics of repatriation have not been dealt with in detail. This book explores the notion that the Palestinian refugee case is exceptional through the comparative study of refugee repatriation, and asks:

• To what extent can the Palestinian case be said to be unique?
• Where are the divergences, the overlaps and points of similarity with other refugee situations?
• What lessons can be drawn from these comparisons?
• How can these lessons inform refugee organizations, the donor community and policy makers?

The expert contributors examine the contextual and methodological field, reviewing the trends in forced migration and refugee studies as well as studying the historical and political background of UNHCR and the negotiations around the Palestinian refugee issue. Taking a comparative approach, the book incorporates case studies of specific refugee situations from around the world, revealing key issues in the formulation of repatriation programmes and highlighting lessons to be learnt.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415860178
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/01/2014
Series:	Routledge Studies in Middle Eastern Politics Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	366
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

List of illustrations     ix
List of contributors     x
List of abbreviations     xii
Introduction: the comparative study of refugee repatriation programmes and the Palestinian case   Michael Dumper     1
What is the Palestinian refugee issue?     2
Purpose of the study     8
The impact of current events on the project     10
Structure of the book     14
Trends and patterns in refugee repatriation: overview and the Palestinian case     21
Return of refugees: retrospect and prospect   Richard Black     23
'Refugee studies': key themes     23
Return of refugees in the 'decade of repatriation'     25
Return in public policy     28
Return of refugees: themes and discourses in the literature     29
Conclusion     35
UNHCR and repatriation   Patricia Weiss Fagen     41
Repatriation policies and mechanisms     42
Repatriations at the end of the Cold War     45
Integration programs in countries of origin     47
The debate over UNHCR's role in reintegration     56
Post-conflict returns: present prospects     58
Perspectives on Palestinian repatriation   RexBrynen     63
Key issues     64
Conclusion     79
The Palestinian refugees of 1948: models of allowed and denied return   Menachem Klein     87
The problem in context     88
Point of origin     90
Track two models on Palestinian return     92
Limited success on track two: four case studies     94
The permanent status talks     98
Summary     102
Case studies     107
'Sustainable returns'?: state, politics and mobile livelihoods - the Guatemalan case   Finn Stepputat     109
The conflict in historical perspective     109
Dynamics of displacement     111
Frameworks of return     113
The institutional set-up(s)     117
Choices and options     121
Return, reintegration and mobile livelihoods     124
Refugee return and state- and peace-building     126
Conclusion     127
What does "adequate assistance" mean in the context of promoting viable return and appropriate compensation?: lessons from the Horn of Africa   Laura Hammond     132
The dream and the reality of return     133
UNHCR's mandate with respect to return      134
Lessons from the Horn of Africa     135
Measuring self-sufficiency through household economy analysis     143
Conclusion: implications for Palestine     151
Linking return and reintegration to complex forced migration emergencies: diversities of conflict, patterns of displacement and humanitarian responses - a comparative analysis   Christopher McDowell   Nicholas van Hear     154
The diversity of conflict and shifting patterns of displacement     156
Humanitarian challenges and constraints on assistance     163
Refugee repatriation, IDP return, and reintegration     167
Conclusion     176
Refugee return in Bosnia and Herzegovina   Paul Prettitore     180
The rights of refugees and displaced persons     182
The return of refugees and displaced persons     184
Progress on return     198
Conclusion     199
Re-approaching voluntary repatriation within a reconciliation framework: a proposal drawn from the Cambodian return process   Ana Garcia Rodicio     209
Re-approaching voluntary repatriation within a reconciliation framework     209
A proposal drawn from the Cambodian return process     217
Conclusion     228
UNHCR under duress: the reducing power of UNHCR to influence outcomes for Afghan refugees   Peter Marsden     232
A historical outline     232
The early migrations     235
The early returns     236
New outflows and internal displacement     238
The responses of Iran and Pakistan     240
The responses of donors     244
The role of UNHCR in the provision of reconstruction assistance to returnees after 2001     246
The position of the Afghan government     247
Conclusion     248
Politically preferred solutions and refugee choices: applying the lessons of Iraq to Palestine   Michael Kagan     250
Voluntariness in international durable solutions standards     251
Voluntariness and politically-preferred solutions: a critical analysis     254
Return to Iraq in the first year since regime change     256
Comparing theory with practice in Iraq     262
What was the politically preferred situation?     264
Conclusion: lessons from Iraq     265
Lessons learnt     271
Palestinian return migration: lessons from the international refugee regime   Sari Hanafi     273
The international refugee regime     273
Lessons learnt from the refugee return experiences      275
Conclusion     282
Global perspectives on Palestinian refugee repatriation   Michael Dumper     287
Contextualising the study of Palestinian refugee repatriation     287
Is it possible to make effective comparisons and policy transfers?     289
Themes drawn from the case studies     293
Towards a toolbox for a Palestinian repatriation programme     300
Conclusion     308
Appendix 1     311
Appendix 2     314
Bibliography     318
Index     329

Editorial Reviews

'The volume deserves praise for offering a fresh and imaginative perspective on very difficult questions. ...It is thus recommended reading for scholars of forced migration and offers often overlooked insight for students of Palestinian affairs' - Wendy Pearlman, International Journal of Middle East Studies, February 2009

From the Publisher