Asylum and Extraction in the Republic of Nauru

Asylum and Extraction in the Republic of Nauru explores the realities of Nauru's offshore asylum arrangement and its impact on islanders, workers, and migrant populations. It reveals how the island's colonial connection to phosphate led to a new industrial sector in asylum, populated by refugee lawyers, social workers, clinicians, policy makers, and academics globally. The book sheds light on the everyday running of the offshore asylum industry and highlights how refugee rights activism and #RefugeesWelcome-style movements are caught up in the hardening of border enforcement operations worldwide.

Format: Hardback
Length: 318 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Offshore asylum arrangements in the Republic of Nauru have garnered significant attention due to their unique and challenging nature. This book provides an in-depth exploration of the realities of Nauru's offshore asylum system and its profound impact on the islanders, workforce, and migrant populations. Conducted through extensive fieldwork in Nauru, Australia, and Geneva, as well as a thorough examination of the British Phosphate Commission archives, Julia Caroline Morris charts the island's historical connection to phosphate mining, evolving into a new industrial sector focused on asylum.

Morris delves into the diverse global community of refugee lawyers, social workers, clinicians, policy makers, and academics who populate this extractive industry. She uncovers how the structures of Nauru's colonial phosphate industry and the legacies of the phosphateera have facilitated the establishment of a new human extractive sector on the island. By examining the creation and social dynamics of Nauru's asylum system, Morris sheds light on the institutional frameworks, discourses, and rhetoric that shape migration governance worldwide.

As offshore asylum practices have gained popularity across the globe, they are enabled by the mobile labor and expertise of transnational refugee industry workers who carry out the essential daily operations. This book goes beyond the headlines to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of the offshore asylum industry in Nauru, unveiling the realities that lie beneath the surface. Morris also highlights how refugee rights activism and movements like #RefugeesWelcome are intertwined with the intensification of border enforcement operations worldwide, advocating for freedom of movement that extends beyond adjudicating hierarchies of suffering.

In conclusion, Asylum and Extraction in the Republic of Nauru offers a comprehensive and insightful examination of the complex dynamics surrounding offshore asylum arrangements. Through meticulous research and analysis, Morris provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the global refugee crisis and the challenges faced by countries seeking to address it. This book is a must-read for policymakers, activists, and scholars interested in exploring the intersection of migration, human rights, and the politics of asylum.

Weight: 654g
Dimension: 160 x 238 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501765841