The Myth of Self-Reliance. Naohiko Omata

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       The Myth of Self-Reliance

      STUDIES IN FORCED MIGRATION

      General Editor: Dawn Chatty, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford

      This series, published in association with the Refugees Studies Centre, University of Oxford, reflects the multidisciplinary nature of the field and includes within its scope international law, anthropology, sociology, politics, international relations, geopolitics, social psychology and economics.

       For a full volume listing, please see back matter.

       The Myth of Self-Reliance

      ECONOMIC LIVES INSIDE A LIBERIAN REFUGEE CAMP

       Naohiko Omata

      First published in 2017 by

      Berghahn Books

       www.berghahnbooks.com

      © 2017, 2020 Naohiko Omata

      First paperback edition published in 2020

      All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purposes of criticism and review, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission of the publisher.

       Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Names: Omata, Naohiko, author.

      Title: The myth of self-reliance : economic lives inside a Liberian refugee camp / Naohiko Omata.

      Description: New York : Berghahn Books, 2017. | Series: Studies in forced migration ; volume 36 | Includes bibliographical references and index.|

      Identifiers: LCCN 2017012307 (print) | LCCN 2017014646 (ebook) | ISBN 9781785335655 (eBook) | ISBN 9781785335648 (hardback : alk. paper)

      Subjects: LCSH: Refugee camps--Ghana. | Refugees--Liberia--Economic conditions. | Refugees--Ghana--Economic conditions.

      Classification: LCC HV640.4.G45 (ebook) | LCC HV640.4.G45 O43 2017 (print) | DDC 362.8709667--dc23

      LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017012307

       British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

      Printed on acid-free paper

      ISBN 978-1-78533-564-8 (hardback)

      ISBN 978-1-78920-810-8 (paperback)

      ISBN 978-1-78533-565-5 (ebook)

      Contents

       List of Illustrations

       Acknowledgements

       List of Abbreviations

       Maps

       Introduction. Buduburam: An Exemplary Refugee Camp?

       1. ‘Guests Who Stayed Too Long’: Refugee Lives in a Protracted Exile

       2. Economic Lives in Buduburam

       3. The Household Economy in the Camp

       4. The Roots of Economic Stratification: A Historical Perspective

       5. Repatriation to Liberia: The ‘Best’ Solution for Refugees?

       6. The ‘End’ of Refugee Life? When Refugee Status Ceases

       7. Developing a Better Understanding of Livelihoods, Self-Reliance and Social Networks in Forced Migration Studies

       Epilogue. Buduburam in 2015

       References

       Index

Illustrations

      Figures

       2.1 Victoria’s remittance cluster

       3.1 Percentage of food and non-food expenditures

       3.2 Monthly income in comparison with livelihood protection and survival threshold, income numbers given in GH

      Illustrations

       6.1 Banner posted inside Buduburam camp in early 2012

       6.2 Banner posted inside Buduburam camp in early 2012

       6.3 Refugees registering for repatriation

      Tables

       2.1 Monthly remittances and transactions through Western Union branches, Buduburam

       3.1 Demographic profile of the eighteen sample households

       3.2 Monthly average income and expenditures per household in GH

       3.3 Number of days of giving food to other households in a single month

       3.4 Sources of monthly household income

       3.5 Patterns of monthly non-food expenditures per household in GH

Acknowledgements

      Since I have started this research project, a huge number of people have helped me in many ways. In the first instance, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for