Does Skill Make Us Human?: Migrant Workers in 21st-Century Qatar and Beyond

In Natasha Iskanders book "Does Skill Make Us Human?", she argues that the distinction between the "skilled" and "unskilled" is used to limit freedom, narrow political rights, and deny access to imagination and desire. She explores how migrants are recruited, trained, and used in Qatar's construction industry, and how skill categories adjudicate personhood, creating hierarchies that shape working conditions, labor recruitment, migration policy, the design of urban spaces, and the reach of global industries. She suggests that the dehumanizing politics of skill can be undone through tactical solidarity and creative practices.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 09 November 2021
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Skill, as a measure of ability and training, is commonly defined as a means to assess one's aptitude. However, Natasha Iskander's groundbreaking book, Does Skill Make Us Human? challenges this notion by revealing that skill distinctions are employed to restrict freedom, narrow political rights, and even deny access to imagination and desire. In the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup, Iskander delves into Qatar's thriving construction industry, offering an unprecedented perspective on the experiences of migrant workers. Through her extensive research, in-depth interviews, and exclusive access to construction sites in Doha, Iskander uncovers how migrants are recruited, trained, and utilized in this sector. Despite their acquisition of advanced technical skills, these workers are often dehumanized and labeled as "unskilled," "unproductive," "poor quality," or simply "bodies."

Skill categories serve as a mechanism to determine one's worth and place in society, shaping various aspects of social and economic life. Iskander demonstrates how these categories establish hierarchies that govern working conditions, labor recruitment, migration policy, urban planning, and the reach of global industries. Moreover, she explores how skill distinctions shape industry responses to global warming, with employers recruiting migrants from climate-damaged regions at lower wages and exposing them to the extreme heat of Qatar. Iskander raises important questions about the dehumanizing politics of skill and proposes strategies for dismantling them through tactical solidarity and creative practices.

Does Skill Make Us Human? has far-reaching implications for immigrant rights and migrant working conditions worldwide. It examines the factors that justify and exacerbate inequality, shedding light on the complex dynamics that shape our societies. By challenging the notion that skill alone determines human worth, this book offers a critical examination of the power dynamics at play and provides insights into the potential for transformative change.

Weight: 582g
Dimension: 157 x 234 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691217567