Institutional Disrespect

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-viii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Ibolya Losoncz

   Pages 1-12

3. From South Sudan to Australia

   • Ibolya Losoncz

   Pages 13-38

4. Methodology

   • Ibolya Losoncz

   Pages 39-50

5. Conceptualising Respect and Institutional Disrespect in the Refugee Migration Context

   • Ibolya Losoncz

   Pages 51-66

6. Goals Without Means: The Economic Exclusion of Refugee Migrants

   • Ibolya Losoncz

   Pages 67-81

7. ‘They Are Destroying Us’: Family Conflict and Institutional Intervention

   • Ibolya Losoncz

   Pages 83-98

8. Disrespect at the Hands of the Government

   • Ibolya Losoncz

   Pages 99-114

9. Responses to Institutional Disrespect

   • Ibolya Losoncz

   Pages 115-133

10. Conclusion

    • Ibolya Losoncz

    Pages 135-148

11. Back Matter

    Pages 149-155

    PDF

This book is about the institutional disrespect experienced by refugee immigrants at the hands of the state and its institutions. The desire to be treated respectfully is not felt only by refugees, but they are a much higher risk of not receiving it. Using a case study of recently settled South Sudanese Australians, the author uncovers the social realities of their marginalisation and examines how blocked pathways to cultivate collective and self-identities can lead to a breakdown of social bonds between immigrants and social institutions. Institutional Disrespect invites us to take a fresh look at whose responsibility it is to address the disrespect felt by immigrants and other marginalised groups, and argues that when disrespect is systemic in governance arrangements, or comes in the forms of injustice and institutional mistreatment, the responsibility lies not with individuals but with the state, its institutions and its appointed bureaucrats.

• refugee settlement
• refugee migration
• sociology of migration studies
• multicultural community work
• Sudanese migrants
• African Studies

“Ibi Losoncz’s book is a valuable contribution to the growing literature on settlement issues among African-Australian migrant communities, in particular the South Sudanese community. Her research and approach is unique in this field, and demonstrates a deep respect for the community that she has engaged with. The analysis and findings are important for policy makers at all levels of government, local, state and national, and for members of all diasporic, migrant or refugee communities living in Australia and beyond.” (Dr. Tanya Lyons, Past-President, African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific)

“This pathbreaking book on how government institutions fail to build respectful relations with their refugee migrant community is part of a new vogue of scholarship that points to the broader struggle of democracies relying on institutional processes that are deaf to human needs. With stunning clarity, Losoncz portrays the disillusionment, anger and loss of hope that comes when people see no path ahead.” (Valerie Braithwaite, Professor, School of Regulation and Global Governance)

• Australian National University, Acton, Australia

  Ibolya Losoncz

Ibolya Losoncz is a research fellow at the School of Regulation and Global Governance, at the Australian National University, Australia. She has been researching and writing about the integration of South Sudanese and other resettled refugees in Australia for the past ten years.

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