on>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
© 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
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
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
