Book Review: Other Areas
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1478-9302.2008.00165_6.x |
| Date | 01 September 2008 |
| Published date | 01 September 2008 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
409
insignificant achievement for such a dense con-
for anyone interested in social protest in China
ceptual study.
and elsewhere.
The concept of rightful resistance (first
Jonathan Sullivan
appearing in O’Brien’s World Politics article in
(University of Nottingham)
1996) evolves through the observation of forms
of social protest, increasingly prevalent in rural
China, that ‘straddle the border between ...
We welcome short reviews of books in all
popular resistance and institutionalized participa-
areas of politics and international relations.
tion’ (p. 2). Rightful resistance involves ‘claims
For guidelines on submitting reviews, and to
that are neither transgressive nor contained, but
see an up-to-date listing of books avail-
boundary spanning’ (p. 49), in the defence of
able for review, please visit http://www.
‘rights extended but not observed’ (p. 62). The
politicalstudiesreview.org/.
multilayered hierarchy and ‘formidable principal-
agent problems’ (p. 65) of the Chinese state have
created an opportunity structure which village
Other Areas
activists
can
exploit
in
resisting
the
mis-
implementation of central policies by cadres at
Conflict
and
the
Refugee
Experience:
the local level. In other words, since state power
Flight, Exile and Repatriation in the Horn
is ‘fragmented and divided against itself ’ it is
of Africa by Assefaw Bariagaber. Aldershot:
often possible for villagers to ‘locate pressure
Ashgate, 2006. 196pp., £50.00, ISBN 0 7546
points where elite unity crumbles’ (p. 14). In
4365 4
practice, this requires that villagers identify legal
provisions, or even discursive cues, from the
This book represents a valuable new contribution
centre, that are at odds with local realities. Sub-
to the growing literature on displacement in
sequently, since activists face daunting obstacles
Africa, and will be of interest to scholars of forced
at the local level, they often need to locate advo-
migration, particularly those concerned with
cates and benefactors at higher levels, who may
repatriation movements. Bariagaber offers a lon-
be sympathetic to claims which – by flagging up
gitudinal study of the intertwined refugee crises
and challenging mis-implementation – ostensi-
in Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, tracking
bly
strengthen
rather
than
challenge
state
the origins of displacement and the experience of
policies.
life in exile, through to efforts to resolve refugees’
Chapter 1 introduces the concept of rightful
displacement through repatriation. While Baria-
resistance and links it to other types of popular
gaber primarily focuses on the regional and
contention; chapter 2 examines the opportunities
national levels of analysis, he also helpfully under-
for protest in rural China; chapter 3 explains the
lines the influence of global superpowers and
boundary-spanning nature of rightful resistance;
international organisations such as the Office of
chapter 4 looks at how more benign modes of
the United Nations High Commissioner for
rightful resistance can escalate into direct action;
Refugees (UNHCR) on the dynamics of exile
chapter 5 examines the outcomes of rightful resis-
and return.
tance in terms of policy implementation and
Conflict and the Refugee Experience advances
effects on activists and the wider community; and
several interlinked arguments. First, the author
chapter 6 discusses the potential ramifications for
contends that owing to their ‘structural weak-
state–society relations in China, in terms of
nesses’, the states in the Horn were often com-
notions of citizenship and the prospects for politi-
pelled to seek outside assistance in managing
cal change.
displacement (p. 8). However, the countries
As befits such an accomplished conceptual
involved used this assistance as an opportunity to
study, the book provokes many further research
advance their national interests. Bariagaber under-
questions and hypotheses and is essential reading
scores that not only nation states but also inter-
© 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 Political Studies Association
Political Studies Review: 2008, 6(3)
410
O T H E R A R E A S
national agencies and refugees themselves make
tations about the optimal allocation of resources
‘considered’ decisions about exile and return,
that closely match citizens’ expectations.
seeking to maximise the value of the opportuni-
Diaz-Cayeros examines the trade-off that exists
ties presented to them (p. 8). Last,...
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