What is the situation confronting 'refugees' and immigrants who enter Europe and North America? While this issue has received considerable attention in the press there has been too little in-depth research examining the issues which confront those who seek asylum. This conference sought to remedy that gap by bringing together innovative new research by anthropologists, sociologists, lawyers, historians, social scientists, asylum/immigrant advocates and human rights activists in the form of cutting-edge case studies of the political institutions, bureaucratic obstacles, legal issues and socio-political process that asylum seekers confront.
Case studies were invited on:
- The impact of national and regional immigration controls – including regional cooperation pacts e.g. linking the EU and North Africa, the US and Canada – on individuals seeking asylum. How do individuals enter? Do these barriers force asylum seekers to enter illegally and if so at what cost? How does illegal entry affect an individual’s ability to claim asylum?
- The experience of individuals who are or have sought asylum. How do individuals navigate asylum procedures? What if any is the key to obtaining recognition? What are the barriers?
- Lawyers, lawyering and immigration-related litigation?
- The use made of expert reports in immigration-related litigation in the UK and elsewhere.
- The importance of language, culture, gender, religion or class in the outcome of asylum appeals?
- The impact of asylum and immigration policies on the rights of asylum applicants?
- The role of key institutions – e.g. the national immigration authorities, courts and judges (e.g. judicial decision-making), police, NGOs,community groups, political parties/groups – on refugees and asylum decisions?
- The impact of 9/11 and terrorist legislation on the ability of individuals to seek and obtain asylum?
Accepted papers are shown here.
