Analysing asylum in Britain and Germany from a historical and conceptual perspective, this book provides a comparative study of asylum and refugee policies. Governments in Europe have been accused of using and abusing these policies with minimal regard for the asylum seekers' protection. This book is an interdisciplinary work, bringing together sociological, political and policy perspectives. Theoretical approaches are considered, with an overview of the significance of refugees and asylum within political theory. The similarities and differences between Britain and Germany are also evaluated.
The different challenges raised by asylum seekers to the nation-state, the welfare state and liberal democracies are discussed, as are the reasons why states continue to grant asylum. This book covers a topic of direct relevance in current political debates in Europe and elsewhere.
