Dr John R. Campbell is a Reader in the Anthropology of Africa and Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He has undertaken fieldwork in Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia and the UK, and has undertaken development-related consultancies in Kenya, Ethiopia and Botswana. In addition to teaching the anthropology of development and the ethnography of Eastern Africa, he teaches courses on legal anthropology. His most recent book is Nationalism, Law and Stateless: Grand Illusions in the Horn of Africa (Routledge, 2013).

• List of Tables and BoxesList of CasesList of Case LawAcknowledgementsChapter 1. An anthropological approach to studying the asylum fieldChapter 2. The evolution of the British Asylum SystemChapter 3. The work of the British Home Office and UK Border AgencyChapter 4. Taking and making refugee claims: The work of immigration caseworkers, interpeters and barristersChapter 5. The Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and the work of Immigration JudgesChapter 6. The politics of 'permission' and the Court of AppealChapter 7. The Kafkaesque experience of asylum seekersChapter 8. Interest groups, asylum policy and Home Office intransigenceConclusion and PostscriptGlossaryBibliographyIndex

'Dr. Campbell’s important field study concerns the bureaucratic processing of asylum applications from Ethiopians and Eritreans seeking asylum in the UK. While this excellent work describes the pertinent formal law, its striking originality lies in its ethnographic perspective. This includes detailed case studies of the peculiar workings of an overloaded, under- prepared and understaffed government bureaucracy righteously turning down most such applications.' Professor Sally Falk Moore, Harvard University, USA'The processing of asylum claims largely takes place in conditions which exclude the voices of the people whose future is being decided. This important book offers rich anthropological insights into the operation of the refugee determination system and identifies the need for continued vigilance about failures to protect vulnerable individuals.'Professor Werner Menski, SOAS, University of London, UK'Dr. Campbell’s remarkable book provides deep insights into the UK asylum system and how it limits who is determined to be a refugee. Findings and conclusions are premised on extensive interviews and analysis of cases in the British asylum system. It will become a touchstone for future asylum system studies.'Dr James C. Simeon, York University, Canada

Dr John R. Campbell is a Reader in the Anthropology of Africa and Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He has undertaken fieldwork in Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia and the UK, and has undertaken development-related consultancies in Kenya, Ethiopia and Botswana. In addition to teaching the anthropology of development and the ethnography of Eastern Africa, he teaches courses on legal anthropology. His most recent book is Nationalism, Law and Stateless: Grand Illusions in the Horn of Africa (Routledge, 2013).

• List of Tables and BoxesList of CasesList of Case LawAcknowledgementsChapter 1. An anthropological approach to studying the asylum fieldChapter 2. The evolution of the British Asylum SystemChapter 3. The work of the British Home Office and UK Border AgencyChapter 4. Taking and making refugee claims: The work of immigration caseworkers, interpeters and barristersChapter 5. The Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and the work of Immigration JudgesChapter 6. The politics of 'permission' and the Court of AppealChapter 7. The Kafkaesque experience of asylum seekersChapter 8. Interest groups, asylum policy and Home Office intransigenceConclusion and PostscriptGlossaryBibliographyIndex

'Dr. Campbell’s important field study concerns the bureaucratic processing of asylum applications from Ethiopians and Eritreans seeking asylum in the UK. While this excellent work describes the pertinent formal law, its striking originality lies in its ethnographic perspective. This includes detailed case studies of the peculiar workings of an overloaded, under- prepared and understaffed government bureaucracy righteously turning down most such applications.' Professor Sally Falk Moore, Harvard University, USA'The processing of asylum claims largely takes place in conditions which exclude the voices of the people whose future is being decided. This important book offers rich anthropological insights into the operation of the refugee determination system and identifies the need for continued vigilance about failures to protect vulnerable individuals.'Professor Werner Menski, SOAS, University of London, UK'Dr. Campbell’s remarkable book provides deep insights into the UK asylum system and how it limits who is determined to be a refugee. Findings and conclusions are premised on extensive interviews and analysis of cases in the British asylum system. It will become a touchstone for future asylum system studies.'Dr James C. Simeon, York University, Canada

Dr John R. Campbell is a Reader in the Anthropology of Africa and Law at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London. He has undertaken fieldwork in Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia and the UK, and has undertaken development-related consultancies in Kenya, Ethiopia and Botswana. In addition to teaching the anthropology of development and the ethnography of Eastern Africa, he teaches courses on legal anthropology. His most recent book is Nationalism, Law and Stateless: Grand Illusions in the Horn of Africa (Routledge, 2013).

• List of Tables and BoxesList of CasesList of Case LawAcknowledgementsChapter 1. An anthropological approach to studying the asylum fieldChapter 2. The evolution of the British Asylum SystemChapter 3. The work of the British Home Office and UK Border AgencyChapter 4. Taking and making refugee claims: The work of immigration caseworkers, interpeters and barristersChapter 5. The Immigration and Asylum Tribunal and the work of Immigration JudgesChapter 6. The politics of 'permission' and the Court of AppealChapter 7. The Kafkaesque experience of asylum seekersChapter 8. Interest groups, asylum policy and Home Office intransigenceConclusion and PostscriptGlossaryBibliographyIndex

'Dr. Campbell’s important field study concerns the bureaucratic processing of asylum applications from Ethiopians and Eritreans seeking asylum in the UK. While this excellent work describes the pertinent formal law, its striking originality lies in its ethnographic perspective. This includes detailed case studies of the peculiar workings of an overloaded, under- prepared and understaffed government bureaucracy righteously turning down most such applications.' Professor Sally Falk Moore, Harvard University, USA'The processing of asylum claims largely takes place in conditions which exclude the voices of the people whose future is being decided. This important book offers rich anthropological insights into the operation of the refugee determination system and identifies the need for continued vigilance about failures to protect vulnerable individuals.'Professor Werner Menski, SOAS, University of London, UK'Dr. Campbell’s remarkable book provides deep insights into the UK asylum system and how it limits who is determined to be a refugee. Findings and conclusions are premised on extensive interviews and analysis of cases in the British asylum system. It will become a touchstone for future asylum system studies.'Dr James C. Simeon, York University, Canada