This book differs from other research in this area in that it explores both Vietnamese activism within the camps and the political networks of Vietnamese in the diaspora. It gives ample examples of diasporic social and political actions and the Vietnamese protests in the various camps. Another point that sets this book apart is the debate over the meanings of 'humanitarian' and 'human rights'. The author argues that 'humanitarian' and 'human rights' could create contradictions in the refugee camps. Whereas Hong Kong and Southeast Asian leaders gave the Vietnamese shelter and humanitarian protection, concurrently, boats were being pushed back to sea. The latter action found Vietnamese refugees locked up in detention centres, confined behind barbed wire or lingering in squalid camps for extensive periods. Lipman claims that by the late 1980s, the diasporic Vietnamese and human rights activists found that their idea of human rights would come into direct conflict with governments' commitments to humanitarian support.In Camps is the first publication of the Critical Refugee Studies Collection published by the University of California Press. It makes an essential contribution to understanding the politics of refugee status determination and protection during the Vietnamese refugee crisis between 1975 and 2005. I recommend it as a well-researched, engaging and informative read.
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