Book Notes

Exodus within Borders: An Introduction to the Crisis of Internal Displacement. By David A. Korn. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 1999. Pp. 147. $22.95, cloth.

In this book, which details the international crisis of internally displaced people, Korn summarizes the findings of Francis M. Deng and Roberta Cohen’s study that resulted in the production of their report, “Masses in Flight: The Global Crisis of Internal Displacement.”

Korn offers a riveting portrayal of the worldwide crisis of internal displacement, and he identifies the fundamental problems faced by internally displaced populations in forty countries. He examines situations around the globe and depicts the manner in which internal strife, civil wars, and political turmoil have led to the uprooting of millions from their homes. The author distinguishes the problems that face the internally displaced—those who remain in their country of origin—from those of refugees who have managed to flee their home countries and become eligible for international assistance. Korn points out that although refugees have received far more international attention and aid in recent years, the number of internally displaced persons far outweighs the number of those who have achieved refugee status. In fact, the numbers suggest that there are up to twice as many internally displaced persons as recognized refugees. Impossibilities and impracticabilities in granting assistance, organizing support, and maintaining missions are some of the reasons this large group garners insufficient attention.

The facts highlighted in the book show that, although measures to help internally displaced populations have increased over the last decade, assistance efforts by international organizations such as the United Nations remain inadequate. Primarily, this deficiency results from the difficulty of overcoming state-asserted autonomy. Korn notes that state autonomy, while notably reduced since the end of the Second World War, still serves as a trump card in the hands of many oppressive governments who invoke autonomy as a means of disallowing intergovernmental and nongovern-mental agencies access to their most needy populations. In the case of internally displaced populations, some governments may refuse to allow agencies to access these peoples for fear of losing valuable sovereignty through direction from outside actors. Oftentimes, it is the governments themselves that are directly involved in the tumultuous situations that have given rise to the plight of their internally displaced populations, and these entities view the work of outside agencies as counter to their primary purposes.

Unlike refugees who have escaped fate at the hands of their own governments, internally displaced persons remain tied to the government and political factions that may have created the very situation in which they presently find themselves. They are left without recourse against an oppressive force that refuses to submit to the will of an outside organization. They do not have an entire humanitarian office of the United Nations dedicated to ensuring their safety and security. This lack of resources is one of the most crucial factors affecting the ability of internally displaced persons to return to their homes, find a life of normalcy, and freely express their rights to liberty.

In order to overcome this obstacle and the many others faced by internally displaced persons, the book suggests several means of addressing the problem through international, regional, and community prevention and response mechanisms. Korn advises that one of the most effective means of combating these issues is through implementation of a preventive strategy. Such a strategy would involve consistent and penetrating attention to high-risk states and surrounding areas in order to identify conflicts before they occur. The primary benefit is that preventable situations can be quickly identified, and the appropriate international or regional bodies may readily intervene to resolve the conflict. Even if a compromise cannot be reached and conflict becomes unavoidable, humanitarian and human rights agencies will have the tools and information necessary to coordinate an effective response to the situation.

The report further indicates that increased communication and coordinated efforts among agencies are needed to provide valuable relief. Nongovernmental, intergovernmental, regional, and local agencies need to better delegate responsibilities for certain aspects of prevention, relief, protection, and assistance. Part of the proposed solution involves making individual agencies responsible for the areas of assistance for which they are most efficiently suited.

Making development a fundamental goal of relief and assistance projects is also an important factor of the proposed solution set. Korn contends that the lack of development initiatives included in current relief projects significantly limits the ability of aid to fully deliver relief. Programs and projects that provide education and job-skill training to internally displaced groups are essential if people are ever to be successfully reintegrated into their previous homes or introduced into new communities.

This book provides a concise and informative summary of the startling results of Cohen and Deng’s report. In addition, the illustrative photography offers a glimpse of the human faces hiding behind the numbers and statistics. The book is an important introduction to a pervasive problem that is only now being recognized by the international community, and should be considered a significant tool for formulating innovative and effective responses to this ongoing crisis.

—Taryn Dayne Fielder

Copyright © 2000 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
Harvard Human Rights Journal / Vol. 13, Spring 2000