The Outsiders

Flight and integration are extremely important themes at present. They are a major reason for the rise of right-wing populist parties and are threatening to divide the EU. However, a glimpse into the depths of history puts 2015’s »refugee crisis« into perspective. Since the expulsion of Jews from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492, Europe has constantly been a continent of refugees.

Philipp Ther delves into the reasons for flight: religious intolerance, radical nationalism, and political persecution. Beginning with life stories he illustrates its hardships, identifies factors for successful integration, and discusses the repeated failure of international politics and the lessons that have come out of situations like the 1951 Refugee Convention of Geneva. As Ther shows, humanitarianism in refugee policy has always been fragile. But when today the fear of a failure of integration once again dominates the headlines, it is important to remember that destination countries have almost always profited from refugees. This is proven in particular by the history of post-war Germany when the young Federal Republic became a country of refugees.

»[The Outsider] has become an informative and clever exploration of the history of flight and integration in Europe since the end of the 15^th century. « Süddeutsche Zeitung

»...a European panorama of humanity. A study cannot be assembled any more clearly given the countless millions that wandered through the centuries.« DIE ZEIT

»The exodus from Egypt, the Babylonian exile or Joseph and Mary who fled from Herod’s bloodhounds: those writing about the history of flight can delve deeply into the history of mankind. Philipp Ther has certainly done this with The Outsider, a fascinating history of flight in Europe.« Falter

»An urgently important book with wide appeal that should appear as soon as possible in other languages.« Der Ackermann

»A book that shows how important having a historical view is for being able to analyse today’s world more calmly. One of the best non-fiction books of the year.« SPIEGEL ONLINE

»The Outsider delivers a number of good arguments to counter current discourse decrying a ‘flood of foreigners’.« junge Welt

»The beginning of a valuable discussion. Finally ad rem. Contrary to resentment.« Ulf Poschardt, Die literarische Welt