Shattered Pasts and Uncertain Futures: Refugee Protection in the 21st Century

Abstract

The plight of refugees is a significant international concern for many reasons. The sheer number of displaced persons represents disorder and societal disintegration, but more importantly, our responses to this plight profoundly impacts the way we view human worth and international institutions. Now a defining characteristic of the post-Cold War era, the phenomenon of forced displacement is no longer a “matter of discretionary charitable concern to policymakers,” but a pressing issue on the international policy agenda (Troeller 1). . . . For purposes of comparison in evaluating these elements, I will focus on the national laws of the United Kingdom and France, and on the experiences of the Kurdish people. As the largest ethnic group without a homeland, Kurds provide valuable examples across the full spectrum of migratory statuses, ranging from illegal immigrants to documented asylum seekers. [From introductory section]