Social Sciences and History / Unit 11 SSH 1014 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Refugee, Asylum Seeker, IDP: Classifying a Mover
The idea
The exam describes a person who has fled and asks the term; the refugee definition is the nineteen fifty-one Convention's wording. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of nationality, and cannot or will not seek its protection; recognized refugees hold the right not to be forcibly returned. An asylum seeker has left one country's territory to seek refugee status in another and has not yet been recognized. Internally displaced people have fled for the same reasons but have not crossed an international boundary and hold no refugee status. A guest worker holds temporary permission to work without permanent status.
In practice
Given "she crossed the border fleeing persecution and has applied for recognition", asylum seeker. Given "the same woman, recognized, cannot be sent back", refugee. Given "he fled the same war but is still inside his country", internally displaced. Given "he entered on a two-year work permit", guest worker. Ask why they moved, whether they crossed a border, and whether a state has recognized the claim.
Where people slip
The trap is calling every border-crosser a refugee; the status is granted, not assumed, and the asylum seeker is the one waiting. The second trap is the IDP, who may be in worse danger with fewer rights, since no border was crossed.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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