Faith and the Asylum Crisis: The role of religion in responding to displacement

Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, the DRC. In each of these contexts, and numerous others, complex dynamics around politics, resources, religion and power are contributing to the creation of a global crisis of displacement of unprecedented scale, with a record number of 51.2 million people displaced in 2013.[1] Dominant state-centric modes of asylum and protection …

The UN Refugee Convention 60 Years On – Time to Rethink Approaches to Protection?

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the coming into force of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Much has changed since the Convention was initially drafted, signed and ratified by states. Increasing globalization, more and more diverse causes of flight and situations requiring protection that often do not fit the …

Globalization, Religion and Humanity Beyond the Nation-State

Recent tragic drownings on migration routes to both Europe and Australia highlight more than ever the paradoxes of globalization – more open borders when it comes to trade and finance, tighter restrictions when it comes to people; immense wealth, privilege and security in some parts of the world and immense poverty, inequality and insecurity in …

Saving lives – but which ones? Life, belonging and postsecular possibilities in contemporary asylum politics

In today's post, Erin Wilson reflects on the recent decision by the Australian parliament to excise its territory from its migration zone, what this means for how we value life, how we belong and how both religious and secular perspectives can help us rethink these critical issues. Last week in my home country, Australia, the …