Alistair D. B. Cook – författare

Across East Asia, intra-regional migration is more prevalent than inter-regional movements, and the region’s diverse histories, geopolitics, economic development, ethnic communities, and natural environments make it an excellent case study for examining the relationship between irregular migration and human security. Irregular migration can be broadly defined as people’s mobility that is unauthorised or forced, and this book expands on the existing migration-security nexus by moving away from the traditional state security lens, and instead, shifting the focus to human security.With in-depth empirical country case studies from the region, including China, Japan, North Korea, the Philippines, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore, the contributors to this book develop a human security approach to the study of irregular migration. In cases of irregular migration, such as undocumented labour migrants, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, trafficked persons, and smuggled people, human security is the cause and/or effect of migration in both sending and receiving countries. By adopting a human security lens, the chapters provide striking insights into the motivations, vulnerabilities and insecurities of migrants; the risks, dangers and illegality they are exposed to during their journeys; as well as the potential or imagined threats they pose to the new host countries. This multidisciplinary book is based on extensive fieldwork and interviews with migrants, aid workers, NGO activists and immigration officers. As such, it will appeal to students and scholars of Asian politics and security, as well as those with interests in international relations, social policy, law, geography and migration.

This book offers a timely and accessible exploration of how humanitarian work is changing across one of the world's most diverse and crisis-affected regions. Set against a backdrop of shrinking global aid budgets, growing humanitarian need, and weakening of long-standing Western leadership, Humanitarian Policy and Action in Asia brings Asian perspectives to the centre of debates about the future of humanitarianism.Drawing on contributions from leading scholars and practitioners, the volume examines how humanitarian policy and practice are shaped by new technologies, regional institutions, state interests, and local traditions. Case studies range from disaster management reforms in Southeast Asia and humanitarian engagement in Afghanistan and Myanmar, to China's evolving role as a humanitarian actor and the growing importance of South–South cooperation. Together, they challenge the assumption that humanitarianism is driven solely from the Global North and highlight Asia's long history of supporting crisis-affected communities.Clear, wide-ranging, and grounded in real-world experience, this book shows how a more multiplex and polycentric humanitarian system is emerging—one that places affected communities, regional voices, and local knowledge at its heart. It is essential reading for students, researchers, and practitioners in humanitarian studies, international development, and Asian studies. It will also appeal to policymakers and NGO professionals working in crisis response, disaster management, and regional governance.The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Journal of Asian Public Policy.

Across East Asia, intra-regional migration is more prevalent than inter-regional movements, and the region’s diverse histories, geopolitics, economic development, ethnic communities, and natural environments make it an excellent case study for examining the relationship between irregular migration and human security. Irregular migration can be broadly defined as people’s mobility that is unauthorised or forced, and this book expands on the existing migration-security nexus by moving away from the traditional state security lens, and instead, shifting the focus to human security.With in-depth empirical country case studies from the region, including China, Japan, North Korea, the Philippines, Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore, the contributors to this book develop a human security approach to the study of irregular migration. In cases of irregular migration, such as undocumented labour migrants, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, trafficked persons, and smuggled people, human security is the cause and/or effect of migration in both sending and receiving countries. By adopting a human security lens, the chapters provide striking insights into the motivations, vulnerabilities and insecurities of migrants; the risks, dangers and illegality they are exposed to during their journeys; as well as the potential or imagined threats they pose to the new host countries. This multidisciplinary book is based on extensive fieldwork and interviews with migrants, aid workers, NGO activists and immigration officers. As such, it will appeal to students and scholars of Asian politics and security, as well as those with interests in international relations, social policy, law, geography and migration.

This collection offers insights of the international humanitarian system, considering what constitutes humanitarianism in Asia-Pacific, and how it shapes policy and practice in the region and globally.