Humanitarianism and Mass Migration

“Perhaps the most disturbing challenge to our consciences in these days is the massive refugee crisis, which will not go away and whose solution calls for a wisdom, a breadth of vision, and a humanitarian concern that go far beyond short-term political decisions. Conscious of the dimensions of this humanitarian crisis, these essays pay attention to its effects on children, families, and those who are most vulnerable in the face of exploitation.”—His Holiness Pope Francis
 
“Humanitarianism and Mass Migration is an urgent and masterful work. These essays on the catastrophic migrations of the twenty-first century are broad-ranging, penetrating, and impressively coordinated by Marcelo Suárez-Orozco. The book will set the agenda for the next generation of researchers, policy makers, and concerned citizens—increasingly all of us—who are dedicated to addressing the great existential crisis of our times.”—Doris Sommer, founder of Cultural Agents and Ira Jewell Williams Jr. Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University
 
“Near the end of Marcelo Suárez-Orozco’s introduction to his edited volume, Humanitarianism and Mass Migration, the reader learns the way to confront the world crisis we face, defined from myriad perspectives in eighteen chapters. In Suárez-Orozco’s words, ‘We need to convert a dread of the unfamiliar “Other” into empathy, solidarity, and a democratizing desire for cultural difference.’ He has assembled scholars from across the social sciences to offer new policies and practices in education and humanitarian assistance to prevent the trauma faced today by unwanted refugees, asylum seekers, and unauthorized immigrants throughout the world. Because nearly one in two hundred children is a refugee whose rights are violated daily, this book could not be more important or more timely. Given the rampant tribalism that defines our time, Suárez-Orozco is wise to remind us that this is a fight against the culture of indifference.”—Kathleen McCartney, President, Smith College
 
“In this collection, as timely as it is valuable, scholarly and policy considerations are brought to bear on the most heartrending issue of our era.”—Howard Gardner, Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard University
 
“In a time when so-called migrant or refugee crises are putting democracies to the test worldwide, Humanitarianism and Mass Migration offers a global perspective on what could be the major challenge of the twenty-first century, demonstrating that these crises are about the fate of the displaced as much as about the future of solidarity.”—Didier Fassin, author of Humanitarian Reason: A Moral History of the Present

“War, disease, and natural disaster have always prompted mass migration. Typically the rest of the world has been sympathetic to these catastrophes. However, the resurgence of nativist sentiments has hardened the hearts and swayed the political will of wealthier receiving countries. Suárez-Orozco has assembled a brilliant collection of articles that speak to the heart of these recurring crises. This is an important read for the twenty-first century.”—Gloria Ladson-Billings, Kellner Family Professor of Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin–Madison