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Vamik D. Volkan has been writing about migration since the early 1970s, and ironically we find that the subject is more relevant today than ever. While there is little in this slim book that is new, it is most timely at this point, when the world is grappling with a refugee crisis the likes of which we have not seen since the end of the Second World War.
Volkan is the right person to tackle this subject because of his vast experience with it, both professional and personal. He has authored, co-authored or edited over fifty psychoanalytic and psycho-political books, and over four hundred scientific papers, or book chapters. His experience in international relations is extensive. He has garnered numerous awards for his work and even been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize on several occasions. His About the Author section is quite impressive and daunting; it reads like a Wikipedia page.
As with so many of us, Volkan’s research interests are influenced by his personal experiences. Born in Cyprus to Turkish parents, he came to the United States as a young man after having completed his medical education in Turkey. He arrived here prepared to begin advanced training in psychiatry and had a position as a medical intern already waiting for him. This privileged position distinguishes him from most of the immigrants and refugees that we encounter today who face an uncertain future.
We are all influenced by our personal experiences. My own history as both a refugee and an immigrant sensitizes me to some important distinctions between these two categories of migrants. Although Volkan acknowledges a difference between voluntary and forced migration, I wish that he was more explicit
about the complex differences and implications of coming to America as an immigrant in search of a better life, versus as a refugee, asylum seeker, or survivor of violence, who is fleeing from persecution. It is my understanding that these categories are not interchangeable and cannot be lumped togeth