Taking Back Control - by Jonathan Darling (Hardcover)

About the Book

This deeply researched book exposes how right-wing populists have captured the debate on asylum in the UK. Focusing on boats, hotels, barracks and removal flights, it reveals how asylum seekers have been vilified and how serious policy has been replaced with spectacles of cruelty.

Book Synopsis

An eye-opening account of how right-wing populists have captured the debate on asylum.

Since the 2019 general election, Britain's relationship to asylum has shifted dramatically. As successive governments have struggled to retain support, the rise of unscrupulous political entrepreneurs and clickbait media has brought openly repressive policies crashing into the mainstream.

In Taking back control, Jonathan Darling tracks how this shift took place and exposes its devastating effects on British politics. Focusing on boats, hotels, barracks and removal flights, he shows how asylum seekers have been made a focal point for public resentment and how serious policy has been replaced with spectacles of performative cruelty.

From proposals to install wave machines in the English Channel to the costly fiasco of the Rwanda plan, the government has flaunted international law and wasted millions in taxpayers' money on schemes with no prospect of success. Taking back control explains how we got here while offering pathways to a more welcoming future.

From the Back Cover

Since the 2019 general election, Britain's relationship to asylum has shifted dramatically. As successive governments have struggled to retain support, the rise of unscrupulous political entrepreneurs and clickbait media has brought openly repressive policies crashing into the mainstream.

In Taking back control, Jonathan Darling tracks how this shift took place and exposes its devastating effects on British politics. Focusing on boats, hotels, barracks and removal flights, he shows how asylum seekers have been made a focal point for public resentment and how serious policy has been replaced with spectacles of performative cruelty.

From proposals to install wave machines in the English Channel to the costly fiasco of the Rwanda plan, the government has flaunted international law and wasted millions in taxpayers' money on schemes with no prospect of success. Taking back control explains how we got here while offering pathways to a more welcoming future.

Review Quotes

'Taking back control is an outstanding contribution to the study of asylum politics. Combining historical depth with acute political analysis, Jonathan Darling reveals how populist narratives have transformed migration governance and normalised hostility towards people seeking refuge. An essential read for anyone seeking to understand contemporary Britain.'
Professor Nando Sigona, University of Birmingham

About the Author

Jonathan Darling is Professor of Human Geography at Durham University. His research has informed parliamentary inquiries by the Home Affairs Committee and the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, and a High Court Case surrounding the use of former military sites for accommodating asylum seekers. He is a regular commentator on migration and asylum in national and international media.