The God Machine

Sixty years after the establishment of the UNHCR, refugees - people who flee across an international border to escape war or persecution - remain at the core of the agency's work. But UNHCR is also called upon to aid people who are displaced within the borders of their own countries, and to address the plight of stateless persons - those not considered as citizens by any country. The book looks at UNHCR's work with these three groups, bringing readers up-to-date on developments since 2006, when the last edition in this series was published. Drawing on UNHCR's direct experience, eight chapters address key challenges, starting with the diminishing space for humanitarian action in places like Somalia and Afghanistan. Protracted conflicts mean that fewer refugees are able to return home, yet restrictive state policies limit possibilities for local integration and resettlement, and threaten the institution of asylum. Rising numbers are displaced within their own countries, drivenfrom their homes by climate change and natural disasters, as well as by conflict and human rights abuses. Refugees and displaced people increasingly live in cities rather than in camps, and are harder to reach. Statelessness, an anachronism in the 21st century, is prevalent on all continents, leaving millions of lives in limbo. The closing chapter addresses the book's central theme: how to develop international solidarity to help states shoulder their responsibilities for the forcibly displaced. Case studies drawn from UNHCR's work in the field illustrate the issues. Now in its sixth edition, The State of the World's Refugees is an invaluable resource for academics, practitioners, policy makers, students and anyone interested in international politics and in the work of the UN refugee agency.