Refugees and crises of law

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe word ‘crisis’ has been on everyone’s lips with regard to the mass arrival of refugees into Europe over the past couple of years. Behrman argues that the crisis can best be understood as one of law. More specifically, the Mediterranean migrant crisis is but the latest in a long series of crises of law, whereby attempts to control and manage the movements of forced migrants have failed on their own terms, let alone on upholding principles of humanitarian protection. By examining the history of these laws over the past century, the theme of order taking precedence over humanitarian concern, and the persistent illusion that human migration can be effectively controlled are shown to be at the root of refugee crises past and present.