A thoughtful contribution to the literature of humanitarian aid.

Kirkus

Alexander Betts grapples with one of the key dilemmas in global politics: how to sustainably protect refugees. Drawing upon extensive research in East Africa, this book provides fresh and powerful insights into the effectiveness of measures aimed at promoting 'self-reliance'. It is a must-read for anyone interested in remedies to the challenges of displacement.

Andrew Geddes, Chair in Migration Studies and Director of the Migration Policy Centre, European University Institute

In this excellent book, Alexander Betts juxtaposes two ideas not usually connected — wealth and refugees. He shows how, with the right approach, refugees can sometimes thrive rather than merely survive. He challenges everyone interested in improving the lives of refugees to balance principle with pragmatism in navigating a complex political landscape.

Raouf Mazou, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, the UN Refugee Agency

An admirably lucid, evidence-based, and solution-oriented engagement with the economic lives of forced migrants. One does not have to agree with Betts to learn from his deep and broad expertise on one of the most critical social justice issues of our time.

Jacqueline Bhabba, Professor of the Practice of Health and Human Rights, Harvard University

Works by political scientists often aspire to combine interdisciplinary sophistication, methodological pluralism, political realism, and cogent policy analysis. In this incisive analysis of policies for refugee self-reliance, Alexander Betts achieves all four objectives.

Robert O. Keohane, Emeritus Professor of International Affairs, Princeton University

People who migrate for safety also participate in the economy. They and their children toil, learn, create, and invest. The more policy is designed to unleash their potential contribution, the more material benefit they bring to the places they go. This book explains numerous specific experiences of how to do that, compellingly told by one of the world's foremost experts.

Michael Clemens, Director of Migration, Displacement, and Humanitarianism, and Senior Fellow, the Center for Global Development (CGD)