Asylum as Violence - by Helen Stalford & Elaine Chase & Ingi Iusmen & Jana Kreppner & William Shankley & Edmira Bracaj (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

This groundbreaking volume exposes the systematic violence embedded within the UK's asylum system as experienced by unaccompanied children and young people.

Drawing on innovative participatory research methodology, the authors reveal how 'hostile environment' policies create devastating 'tipping points' that transform bureaucratic processes into acts of structural violence. Through rigorous legal analysis and compelling empirical evidence, this essential text challenges readers to confront the profound human cost of hostile immigration policy while offering concrete strategies for trauma-informed reform. It is an urgent call for systemic change that will resonate with academics, policy makers and practitioners across law, social work, migration studies and human rights.

About the Author

Helen Stalford is Professor of Law at Liverpool University.

Elaine Chase is Professor of Wellbeing and Education at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society.

Ingi Iusmen is Associate Professor in Governance and Policy at the University of Southampton.

Jana Kreppner is Professor in Developmental Psychology at the University of Southampton.

William Shankley is Lecturer in Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology at the University of Liverpool.

Emira Bracaj is a PhD Student at the School of Law and Social Justice, University of Liverpool and was a co-researcher with lived experience on the LOHST project.