This report aimed at analyzing the UK’s policy and practice, in regard to globalization and its effect on refugees, and asylum seekers. To do this, the report has briefly discussed the four perspectives on the theories of globalization. The report has discussed UK’s policy on refugees and asylum seekers in relation to the globalists and the transformationalist’s perspectives. Several UK policies have been analyzed. Refugees and asylum seekers have been discussed in relation to globalization, UK situation, and their treatment in the UK. The report has also touched on the practice of UK policies in regard to refugees and stateless persons. The results indicate that both the globalists and the transformationalist’s perspectives are very much in play, in regard to refugees and globalization. The UK has been found to apply restrictive measures on stateless persons, and to perpetuate discriminative practices towards refugees and asylum seekers. Through the review of the available literature, the report concluded that the UK policy on refugees is not in line with the UN and the EU conventions it ratified.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page………………………………………………………………………………………….1

Executive summary…………………………………………………………………………….….2

Table of contents…………………………………………………………………………………..3

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………..4

Globalization theories in relation to refugees and asylum seekers………………………………..4

UK policy on refugees and asylum seekers and as it relates to globalization…………………….7

Social group section: refugees and asylum seekers…………………………………………….…9

Practice issues……………………………………………………………………………………10

Overall findings………………………………………………………………………………….12

Reflective statement on assignment 1 feedback………………………………………………….13

References………………………………………………………………………………………..15

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A very important obligation of international law is to allow refugees and asylum seekers to be protected in foreign countries. However, many countries respond differently to the United Nations convention on human rights regarding the acceptance and treatment of refugees. In regard to asylum seekers, the United Nations Declaration on Human rights requires that . The process of globalization has affected the spread, and the numbers of refugees in different countries to a very high degree. This report aims at looking at the UK’s policy on refugees and asylum seekers. To do this, the report will discuss refugees and asylum seekers, in relation to globalization. The paper will also discuss the policy of the UK government that regards to refugees. Finally, the paper will discuss the practice issues, and the findings.

2.0 GLOBALIZATION THEORIES IN RELATION TO REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

The theories of globalization can be looked at through four positions. These are the globalist’s perspective, which is divided into the pessimists and the optimists, the trans-nationalits perspective, and the transfomationalists perspectives (Axford 2013). The pessimistic globalist looks at globalization from a perspective that, it is a good process, meant to promote interactions in the world, for the better of every individual (Axford 2013). The pessimist globalist’s views globalization from a negative perspective. They argue that globalization has promoted westernization, Americanization and world capitalism. They see that, through globalization, some nations have lost their autonomy and that the world superpowers are out to frustrate the less powerful nations.

argue that, globalization has not created any new power structure. On the other hand, the transformalists take almost a similar view with trans-nationalists, arguing that the state boundaries are real and that countries can block their boundaries (Robertson 1992). This is against the globalist’s view, who argued for inter-connections between nations, as well as, the ease of penetration. According to Held and McGrew (2003), globalization is real, and a significant wave of social relations and interconnections is taking place in the world.

Having looked at the four viewpoints of theories of globalization, it is important that the theoretical perspectives are linked to refugees and asylum seekers. These viewpoints of the theories of globalization have aspects that touch on refugees and asylum seekers. The rest of the paper is discussed in relation to the globalists and the transfomationalists perspectives.

Looking at the globalist’s perspective, they agree that globalization has led to stretched social relations (Axford 2013). This aspect affects the interconnections and networks regarding politics, culture, economy, and social aspects across nation-state boundaries. In this regard, the events that happen in one part of the world affect the other part of the world. This applies to refugees and asylum seekers.

The transformationalists agree that nation-states borders are real and that, countries can prevent or block people from entering their territories (Axford 2013). This theory has implications to the refugees and asylum seekers in that; they can be blocked from entering the land of particular nations. The transfomationalists also suggest that globalization, though an interconnection of complex processes can be dealt with, and the global problems prevented (Held and McGrew 2007rs can be tackled globally. In regard to the theories, the paper looks at refugees and asylum seekers in relation to the globalist and the transformationalist’s perspective.

3.0 UK POLICY ON REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS AND AS IT RELATES TO GLOBBALIZATION

The UK law that touches on refugees can be traced back in 1951, to the United Nations conference on the status of refugees and the stateless persons (UNHCR 2007). The UK ratified this charter, thus binding itself to adhere to the charter regarding the treatment of refugees. According to UNHCR (2007), countries that have subscribed to this charter are supposed to treat refugees as per the provisions of the convention, without discrimination on the grounds of gender, religion, country or race. The twenty-third article of the charter also requires that a country shall provide assistance and public relief to refugees in a manner that it provides to its nationals (UNHCR 2007). Having ratified this charter, the UK government committed itself to protecting and treating refugees as per the charter.

The other law regarding refugees and asylum seekers that is affiliated to the UK is the European Convention on Human Rights (Donald, Gordon and Leach 2012). (The British Institute of Human Rights 2006). The law came into effect in 1953, but UK failed to incorporate it into English law. Donald, Gordon and Leach (2012) argue that this made the UK appear frequently under the European court in Strasbourg in regard to violation of the provisions of the charter. Individuals feeling that their rights had been violated would go to Strasbourg to sue the government and the courts of the UK. However, subsequent legislations specific to refugees and asylum seekers show that the UK is not ready to abide by the EU charter.

The Race Relations Act 1976 also relates to discrimination of people in terms of their race. In regard to the globalist’s perspective on the process of globalization (Michael 1999), increased inter-The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is skeptical to the commitment of UK’s government treatment of refugees and asylum seekersThrough this law, the UK immigration officials prevented any asylum seekers from seeking refuge in the country. It also shows how the UK government applied restrictive measures to prevent the inflow of asylum seekers into the country.

A close and critical view of these policies shows stringent measures by the UK government to control the entry of refugees into the country. The law restricts the refugees and asylum seekers in detention centres and denies government support to them. Since the UK ratified the UN and the EU conventions on human rights, it shouldn’t have passed these laws to restrict asylum seekers and refugees. This is a demonstration of disobedient to the provisions of the Eu convention, and the UK’s Human Rights Act 1998.

4.0 SOCIAL GROUP SECTION: REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

lity for fear of persecution, which may arise due to race, social or political group. On the other hand, an asylum seeker is a person who has requested their status from the government, and they are waiting the decision to be made on whether they are refugees. Refugees and asylum seekers are as a result of persecution from their countries of origin, mostly due to social or political reasons. Majority of them are as a result of civil wars. The global picture of refugees has been greatly affected by the process of globalization.

Globalization process impacts both negatively and positively on the refugees and asylum seekers. According to Richmond (2005), refugees face racial discrimination and exploitation thorough cheap labour both in the developing and the developed countries. This promotes inequality and segregation. Some of the refugee camps in the developing countries are very congested, and the state of sanitation is wanting. This predisposes the refugees to diseases, and many of them die (Richmond 2005). Through the detainment process, like it happens in the UK, the refugees face depression, suicidal urges and even death. Through these negative effects, some refugee’s conditions deteriorate, and they end up dying. Others live very miserable lives in the foreign countries.

As impacted by the globalization process, the case of the UK and the treatment of refugees is worrying. Richmond (2005) observes that,

There are also positive impacts of globalization on refugees. According to Richmond (2005), some of the refugees acquire knowledge and experience in their countries of refuge. They can transfer incentives to their mother countries, and even contribute to the development of the countries where they reside. Some of the refugees also benefit by gaining education. This has served to improve their lives.

5.0 PRACTICE ISSUES:

The practice of the UK policies concerning refugees and asylum seekers has not been the best. Rather, there is a contradiction between the generosity that the UK boasts of, and the real practice on the ground. According to a UNHCR (2012) global trends report, the UK adopts very few refugees. For example, in the year 2012-2013, the UK received only 23, 499 applications for refugees and asylum seekers (UNHCR 2012). In the year 2012, the UK had only 0.27 % of the population as refugees. The UNHCR (2012) report shows that most of the refugees reside in developing countries. Pakistan has the highest number.

Contrary to the EU convention on human rights and the UN convention about the status of refugees, which the UK ratified, pounds per person, per week. In addition, the UK government passed a law that sees many of the asylum seekers and the refugees detained in immigration detention centres. This is contrary to the UK government commitment to protecting refugees, as well as, the EU and the UN conventions, in regard to treatment of stateless persons. Also, the UK government only offers the “discretionary leave to remain” to the persons who do not qualify to be refugees (Home Office 2005). This offers them a stay of only three years in the UK soil.

The trends in the UK in regard to their treatment of refugees and asylum seekers are appalling. According to Packer (2013), the UK has maintained a bad tradition and attitude towards asylum seekers. Media reports that asylum seekers are viewed as terrorists, and this necessitated stringent measures by the UK government in an attempt to contain them. Packer (2013) agrees that asylum seekers and refugees are among the groups in the UK that are socially secluded. Race discrimination is very evident in the way US officials treat refugees and asylum seekers. The Race Relations amendment of 2000 did not take into account the immigration officials, and this left a loophole for racial and ethnic discrimination in regard to the refugees and asylum seekers, who are allowed in the UK. The JCHR (2007) also expresses discontent, in the way the asylum seekers and refugees are treated in the UK. They are treated less favorably than the UK citizens, and this has led to deteriorating state of health among the refugees. The JCHR (2007) also outlines physical health problems, ,

The repercussions for such treatment are an increase in racial tension in the UK, especially between the refugees and the locals (Girma 2014). Also, many refugees and asylum seekers live hopeless lives, and some of them lose their lives. Apart from some international humanitarian organizations that raise the alarm, the voice of the refugees cannot be heard by the UK government (Girma 2013).

6.0: OVERALL FINDINGS

Upon a review of research and available literature on the subject under discussion, it is evident that the globalist’s perspective and the transformationalist’s perspectives are in play, concerning the global situation of refugees and asylum seekers. The study has found that, they are tracked and detained in the immigration centres. This proves the transformationalists true, in regard to real borders and blocking of the borders to control in-flow.In regard to the spread of refugees in the world, the global north has the lowest population of refugees while the global south has the highest number (UNHCR 2012). This shows the globalists and transformationalists theory into play. Even though the refugees and asylum seekers have moved to the different parts of the world (globalists theory), the western countries have continued to use measures that prevent them from accessing their borders (Transformationalists).

7.0 REFLECTIVE STATEMENT ON ASSIGNMENT 1 FEEDBACK

REFERENCES

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Donald, A., Gordon, J., & Leach, P. 2012. The UK and the European Court of Human Rights. London, UK: Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Girma, M., Radice, S., Tsangarides, N., & Walter, N. 2014. Detained women asylum seekers locked up in the UK. London: Women for Refugee Women.

Home Office. 2005. Controlling our borders: Making migration work for Britain. Home Office five year strategy for asylum and immigration. London: HMSO.

Held, D., & McGrew, A. 2007. Globalization theory: Approaches and controversies. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press.

Hirst, P., & Thompson, G. 1999. “The future of globalization”. Journal of the Nordic International Studies Association, Vol 37, no. 3, pp: 247-265.

Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. 1999. (C. 33). London: The Stationery Office.

Joint Committee on Human Rights. 2004. Deaths in custody: Third report session 2004-05. London, UK: The Stationery Office.

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Packer, J. 2013. “The UK is failing in its duty to protect vulnerable asylum seekers”. The Guardian, Feb 4, 2013.

Richmond, H. A. 2005. Globalization and the refugee crisis. New York, NY: Centre for Refugee Studies.

Richmond, H.A. 2010. “Globalization: Implications for immigrants and refugees” Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol 25, no. 5, pp: 707-727.

Robertson, R. 1992. Globalization: Social theory and global culture. New York, NY: SAGE Publications.

The British Institute of Human Rights. 2006. Your human rights: A guide for refugees and asylum seekers. London: Author.

The Race Relations Act 1976. 1976. (C. 74). London: The Stationery Office.

UNHCR. 2007. Convention and protocol relating to the status of refugees. Geneva: Author.

UNHCR. 2012. Global trends 2012. Geneva: Author.