Asylum Seekers and the State The Politics of Protection in a Security-Conscious World

Highly topical in subject matter, Asylum Seekers and the State reveals immigration policy as a political process which has social consequences not only for the newcomer group, but also for the wider receiver society. This work considers the obligations which receiver societies have for considering refugee claims, but at the same time assesses contemporary security concerns; it also provides an introduction to the roles of non-government organizations as stake-holders in the political process. The book also offers a study of the historical and cultural context of immigration in Germany and Australia, which demonstrates the practical impact of these issues. Taking a fresh approach to the issue of asylum seekers and refugees, this book offers unique perspectives from non-state actors as significant brokers and advocates of social and political processes.

Contents: Introduction: ambivalence and the outsider. Theoretical Concepts: Locating the obligation to protect; Non-government organizations and the state - partners and adversaries. Historical and Cultural Developments in Immigration and Protection - The Case Studies: The search for protection in Germany; Selection and control in Australia - from old habits to new techniques. The Politics of Exclusion: Paths of resistance and NGO experience in Germany; Detention and state sanctioned violence in Australia; Conclusion: communication and the politics of asylum; Appendix: interviews; Bibliography; Index.

Dr Claudia Tazreiter is a Lecturer in the School of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of New South Wales, Australia.