Why are there so many refugees in the world today? What compels people to make long, risky journeys and to claim asylum in states increasingly disinclined to accept them? Why has the asylum debate become so highly charged and what is at stake? "Refugees in a Global Era" examines the global picture of forced migration. Looking at the history of refugee movements as well as current issues, this book argues that existing policies for world development have made many regions vulnerable to sudden mass movements of population. Split into three manageable parts, the book first sets the refugee question in a global context, combining historical analysis with an insight into contemporary political cultures. Marfleet then goes on to look at a number of current issues surrounding asylum and studies the role the nation-state has to play. Finally, he examines the concepts of displacement and flight, concluding with a persuasive case for the policy of open borders. Offering a...