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Australian sociologists have tackled some of the nation’s hottest political
issues in the latest edition of the Journal of Sociology.
The release of the latest research reveals startling new insights into refugee
containment, medical reform and the impact of multiculturalism on Australia’s
ethnic minority.
Associate Professor and Head of the University of NSW School of Sociology Michael
Humphrey claims the latest war effort against Iraq forms part of a western nations
strategy to slow down the growing numbers of refugees arriving at their borders.
He said his research revealed a shift in the past decade toward more radical
containment policies as refugees became increasingly mobile. And war and regime
change were among the latest control efforts.
Associate Professor Humphrey said it was “interesting” that Afghanistan
and Iraq had been widely identified as two of the world’s key refugee-producing
nations, and had become targets of Western intervention for political and security
reasons.
Other refugee-producing nations were likely face similar pressures in time,
according to Mr Humphrey.
“The trend will continue, as much as possible, to restrict any refugee
flows and if they can’t do that, maybe military intervention through war,”
he said.
Refugee numbers would also plummet as policy makers increasingly ignored the
groups’ rights under parameters set by the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.
“If their rights aren’t recognised then the entity of ‘refugee’
simply ceases to exit,” Mr Humphrey said.
For further information or to arrange interviews:
TASA Media Officer
Chelsea Cormell
Ph: 03 9645 7221
Mob: 0438 883 331
Assoc. Professor & Head of the University of NSW School of Sociology
Michael Humphrey
Ph: 02 9385 2398
Mob: 0403 555 357
Dr Timothy Marjoribanks
Ph: 03 8344 7942
PhD student Swinburne University, Victoria
Zuleyka Zevallos
Mob: 0413 146 838