Mitigating Misery
An Inquiry into the Political and Humanitarian Aspects of U.S. and Global Refugee Policy
Published on 24. September 1993
Book
Paperback/Softback
362 pages
978-0-8191-9176-2 (ISBN)
Description
With over seventeen million refugees inhabiting the globe today, this book addresses this dramatic 20th century phenomenon and several of the issues it raises. Gorman examines how refugee situations arise and the way in which they are addressed by the various global actors: governments, U.N. agencies, and private voluntary organizations. He argues that the entire refugee situation-the provisions of aid, the search for durable solutions, and the resolution of conflicts-involves complex interactions between political and humanitarian causes. Drawing upon his own personal experience in the refugee assistance field, the author explores the various actors, their interactions, refugee emergencies, refugee protection, issues surrounding refugee repatriation, local settlement, and third country resettlement. Gorman pays special attention to refugee policies of the U.S. government, which have dominated the refugee assistance network since World War II. The book, however, is much more than a systematic analysis of contemporary refugee affairs; by referring to great literature, history, and political philosophy, it illustrates how the problem of exile has been a timeless element of the human condition. Combining classical scholarship, international policy analysis, and compelling human interest stories, it offers one of the most comprehensive and unique treatments of the politics of refugee affairs and humanitarian assistance to war-torn regions of the world.
Reviews / Votes
A thoughtful and comprehensive review by a man who has had both practical and theoretical experience. Provides a wide-ranging perspective and also recounts many personal experiences. -- W. R. Smyser, former Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees and Director of the U.S. State Department Refugee Program ..the book reads sometimes like a travel guide, with its descriptions of sunsets and the park outside the Geneva officesof UNHCR, sometimes like a memoir and sometimes like a lecture series. To his credit, the emphasis on the positive elements of humanitarian operations is a welcome reminder of what is good in international cooperation. * Journal Of Refugee Studies * This is the most comprehensive study of refugee policy available, The study is full of wisdom of the classics. The most comprehensive, balanced study of refugee policy available today, full of classical wisdom, common sense, and humanitarian sensibility, as well as a profound respect for the role of the individual in humanitarian issues in a world of power politics. -- Howard Adelman, Director, Centre for Refugee Studies, York University, Toronto This is the most comprehensive study of refugee policy available, The study is full of wisdom of the classics. The most comprehensive, balanced study of refugee policy available today, full of classical wisdom, common sense, and humanitarian sensibility, as well as a profound respect for the role of the individual in humanitarian issues in a world of power politics. -- Howard Adelman, Director, Centre for Refugee Studies, York University, Toronto A thoughtful and comprehensive review by a man who has had both practical and theoretical experience. Provides a wide-ranging perspective and also recounts many personal experiences. -- W. R. Smyser, former Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees and Director of the U.S. State Department Refugee Program ..the book reads sometimes like a travel guide, with its descriptions of sunsets and the park outside the Geneva officesof UNHCR, sometimes like a memoir and sometimes like a lecture series. To his credit, the emphasis on the positive elements of humanitarian operations is a welcome reminder of what is good in international cooperation. * Journal Of Refugee Studies *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Lanham, MD
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8191-9176-2 (9780819191762)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Robert F. Gorman is Professor of Political Science at Southwest Texas State University.