Refugee Law and Policy: International and U.S. Responses (Studies in Human Rights)

Written by a distinguished group of social scientists, the essays address critical aspects of the global refugee situation. The contributors analyze the current problem from the perspectives of law, ethics, and social science, paying particular attention to the linkages and conflicts between international and national refugee issues and concerns. Arguing that a serious gap exists between the obligations undertaken by government delegations to the various refugee conventions and what is actually required to meet the needs of the displaced, the contributors issue a call for concerted international action to address the refugee challenge, explore alternatives to existing policies, and suggest choices consistent with the goal of human dignity for all.

Following an introductory chapter on the nature of the refugee problem, the volume is divided into four parts. The contributors first explore international responses to the refugee problem examining such issues as the rights of refugees under international law, the problem of accountability, and conflicting trends in Western European refugee policies. In a section devoted to the United States response, topics covered include U.S. refugee policy in Africa, Central American refugees, the role of Congress and the courts, and trends in U.S. immigration law and policy. The following chapters address the response of citizens and church-affiliated groups while the concluding section examines ways in which countries can act both to avert the flow of refugees and provide more effective protection for those that need it. An excellent set of readings for courses in international relations and international law, this volume is an important step towards the solution of the international refugee crisis.