The Politics of Compassion: Immigration and Asylum Policy

Steven W. Bender of Seattle University School of Law reviews The Politics of Compassion: Immigration and Asylum Policy by Ala Sirriyeh. Addressing questions of loss, (be)longing, fears of an immigration ‘invasion’ or perceived injustices in immigration policies, Sirriyeh explores how immigration debates are infused with strong emotions. Sirriyeh argues that while emotion is often presented as a factor that complicates and hinders rational discussion, it is, in fact, central to understanding how and why we have the immigration policies we do, and what kinds of policies may be beneficial for various groups of people in society. The author looks beyond the ‘negative’ emotions of fear and hostility to examine the politics of compassion and empathy. Using case studies from Australia, Europe and the US, the book offers a new and original analysis of immigration policy and immigration debates.

Read the book review at https://doi.org/10.1177/0197918318818472.