Refugees in Twentieth-Century Britain: A History

This book explores the arrival, reception, and resettlement of refugees in Britain throughout the twentieth century, focusing on four cohorts: Jewish and other refugees from Nazism, Hungarians in 1956, Ugandan Asians expelled by Idi Amin, and Vietnamese boat people. It argues that Britain's reception of refugees was rarely motivated by humanitarianism and was shaped by international concerns, anxieties, and identity, as well as voluntary efforts and the changing nature of the welfare state.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 13 May 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This comprehensive history delves into the arrival, reception, and resettlement of refugees throughout twentieth-century Britain. By examining four distinct cohorts of refugees—Jewish and other refugees from Nazism; Hungarians in 1956; Ugandan Asians expelled by Idi Amin; and Vietnamese boat people who arrived in the aftermath of the fall of Saigon—Becky Taylor skillfully weaves refugee history with key themes in the history of modern Britain. Through this approach, she compellingly demonstrates how refugees' experiences, rather than being marginalized, were emblematic of some of the principal developments in British society.

Arguing that Britain's reception of refugees was rarely driven by humanitarianism, this book uncovers the role of Britain's international concerns, anxieties, and sense of identity in shaping refugee reception. It also explores how voluntary efforts and the evolving nature of the welfare state influenced the way refugees were received. Drawing upon rich archival sources, this study presents a fresh and compelling perspective on evolving notions of Britishness and the position of outsiders in contemporary Britain.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 153 x 228 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781316638385