Abstract
Both during the Vietnam War and the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, U.S. war resisters sought refuge in Canada to forestall military service. In particular, members of the Vietnam ‘cohort’ have entered and contributed to various domains of Canadian society. Afghanistan/Iraq War resisters, conversely, have tried to secure permanent status in vain. Taking its departure from an exploratory interview study, this chapter illustrates how the latter war resisters therefore avoid any sort of involvement or deeper commitment to Canada. A comparison of both groups’ experiences thus sheds light on opportunities for, and limits to, migrants’ societal participation as a result of their legal status. Apart from a presentation of the findings, the chapter offers an exploration of theoretical concepts, formulated by Agamben and Bhabha, respectively, vis-a-vis the empirical results.
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