Refuge: How the State Shapes Human Potential

Refuge follows Syrians who fled a brutal war in their homeland as they attempt to rebuild in countries of resettlement and asylum. Their experiences reveal that these destination countries can deny newcomers potential by failing to recognize their abilities and invest in the tools they need to prosper. Heba Gowayed spent three years documenting the divergent journeys of Syrian families from similar economic and social backgrounds during their first years of resettlement in the United States and Canada and asylum in Germany.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The world is facing the largest refugee crisis since World War II, and wealthy countries are being urged to welcome displaced individuals with the hope that this will provide them with a better future. Refuge, a documentary film, follows Syrians who have fled their country due to a brutal war and are now trying to rebuild their lives in countries of resettlement and asylum. However, the film reveals that these destination countries are not saviors; they can limit the potential of newcomers by failing to recognize their skills and provide them with the necessary resources to thrive.

Heba Gowayed, the filmmaker, spent three years documenting the diverse experiences of Syrian families from similar economic and social backgrounds during their first years of resettlement in the United States, Canada, and Germany. While all three countries offer legal solutions to displacement, they simultaneously marginalize newcomers through policies that fail to acknowledge their histories, aspirations, and human dignity.

The United States stands out for its emphasis on "self-sufficiency," which aims to integrate refugees into American poverty, a community already characterized by people of color and economic stagnation. Gowayed argues that refugee human capital is not inherent in newcomers but rather a product of the same racist welfare systems that have long shaped national belonging.

Refuge focuses on the human experience of displacement, shedding light on how countries shape the potential of individuals within their borders, whether they are newcomers or not. The film highlights the need for policies that recognize the contributions of refugees and support their integration into society. It also emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding, as well as the need to address the root causes of displacement and work towards a more just and compassionate world.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691203959