Refugees in an Age of Genocide: Global, National and Local Perspectives during the Twentieth Century

by Katharine Knox, Tony Kushner

Overview

This is a study of the history of global refugee movements over the 20th century, ranging from east European Jews fleeing Tsarist oppression at the turn of the century to asylum seekers from the former Zaire and Yugoslavia. Recognizing that the problem of refugees is a universal one, the authors emphasize the human element which should be at the forefront of both the study of refugees and responses to them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781136313264
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/12/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	560
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Katharine Knox, Tony Kushner

Table of Contents

Introduction - refugees, place and memory. Part 1 The closing of asylum 1900-1932: refugees in the age of mass immigration - from the late 19th century to World War I; refugees and World War I; triumphant anti-alienism - the absence of asylum 1919-1932. Part 2 The Fascist era, 1933-1945: refugees from the Spanish Civil War; refugees from Nazism, 1933-1939; refugees, World War II and the Holocaust. Part 3 refugees from the Cold War: Polish refugees - assistance to wartime heroes; refugees from Hungary - anti-communist fervour takes hold. Part 4 Government-enforced dispersal during the 1970s and 1980s: Ugandan Asian exiles - the colonial connection; refugees from Chile - a gesture of international solidarity; refugees from Indo-China - a media-driven resettlement scheme? Part 5 World asylum seekers at the end of the century - closing the doors: the Kurds - a moment of humanity in an era of restriction?; refugees from former Yugoslavia - the last "programme" refugees?; refugees from the former Zaire - the context of colour. Conclusion: asylum, refugees and "home".

Editorial Reviews

'The authors of this book aim to redress the dearth of academic studies on refugees and in doing so accomplish the monumental task of providing a history of global refugee movements in the 20th century ... its helpful observations about the neglected humanity of refugees are important for our multi-cultural society.'
- Jewish Chronicle

'Both in scope and in depth, this book is the result of tireless research, with official documents supplemented by more colourful and often fascinating entries from a number of individuals who came into contact with the refugees ... this is a work of considerable value as a resource for reference purposes and deserves a wide circulation.' - The Tablet

'An example of fine scholarship and distinguished altruism.' - Library Journal

'[A] monumental study of twentieth-century global refugee movements. The scope of this book is as staggering as the events it describes ... although Refugees in An Age of Genocide is written for an academic audience, it deserves a much wider readership. It is written with style and passion and its subject - the responsibility that we all owe to the displaced peoples of our planet - could not be more central to our hopes and fears for the new millennium.' - New Internationalist

'Refugees in an Age of Genocide is the first history of refugees in Britain and makes a substantial contribution to our understanding of Britain's policy towards refugees and asylum seekers over the past century.' - Peace News

'A superb history of refugees in Britain, compiled largely from local historical sources.' - London Review of Books

'The comprehensive scope and focused detail of Refugees in an Age of Genocide presents a compelling case for dedicated political activism on each of the levels noted in the book's subtitle - global, national and local ... a valuable reference work on the social, psychological and political history of displacement in the 20th century, a handbook about real people and problems that affect all of us and for which we all must take responsibility.' - Times Higher Education Supplement

'The beauty of Kushner and Knox's research is the way this grim overview is countered by detailed, irrefutable evidence of the welcome given to refugees on the ground ... it's a tribute to ordinary people - and a rebuke to the populist governments that claim to speak in the people's name.' - Red Pepper

'It will become a standard work on the study of newcomers to Britain, the nation-state that is its focal point ... the amount of work put into this volume inspires complete confidence in its conclusions ... [a] brilliant and moving book.' - Patterns of Prejudice

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