Bureaucracy, Law and Dystopia in the United Kingdom's Asylum System

'Dr. Campbell's important field study concerns the bureaucratic processing of asylum applications from Ethiopians and Eritreans seeking asylum in the UK. While this excellent work describes the pertinent formal law, its striking originality lies in its ethnographic perspective. This includes detailed case studies of the peculiar workings of an overloaded, under- prepared and understaffed government bureaucracy righteously turning down most such applications.' Professor Sally Falk Moore, Harvard University, USA 'The processing of asylum claims largely takes place in conditions which exclude the voices of the people whose future is being decided. This important book offers rich anthropological insights into the operation of the refugee determination system and identifies the need for continued vigilance about failures to protect vulnerable individuals.' Professor Werner Menski, SOAS, University of London, UK 'Dr. Campbell's remarkable book provides deep insights into the UK asylum system and how it limits who is determined to be a refugee. Findings and conclusions are premised on extensive interviews and analysis of cases in the British asylum system. It will become a touchstone for future asylum system studies.' Dr James C. Simeon, York University, Canada 'Dr. Campbell's important field study concerns the bureaucratic processing of asylum applications from Ethiopians and Eritreans seeking asylum in the UK. While this excellent work describes the pertinent formal law, its striking originality lies in its ethnographic perspective. This includes detailed case studies of the peculiar workings of an overloaded, under- prepared and understaffed government bureaucracy righteously turning down most such applications.' Professor Sally Falk Moore, Harvard University, USA 'The processing of asylum claims largely takes place in conditions which exclude the voices of the people whose future is being decided. This important book offers rich anthropological insights into the operation of the refugee determination system and identifies the need for continued vigilance about failures to protect vulnerable individuals.' Professor Werner Menski, SOAS, University of London, UK 'Dr. Campbell's remarkable book provides deep insights into the UK asylum system and how it limits who is determined to be a refugee. Findings and conclusions are premised on extensive interviews and analysis of cases in the British asylum system. It will become a touchstone for future asylum system studies.' Dr James C. Simeon, York University, Canada