'The authors leap around, with vivid reporting from Niger, Libya, the Balkans, Turkey and Egypt, among other places ... The book's key contention-that tighter rules inspire entrepreneurs to create new, more dangerous and criminal smuggling routes-is persuasive.' * The Economist *
'Migrant, Refugee, Smuggler, Saviour argues that the world needs to understand how networks of traffickers function if it is to get to grips with this migration crisis. Co-authors Tinti and Reitano ... use a mixture of reportage, first-hand accounts from migrants and extensive research to uncover a series of complex transnational industries that exist to help migrants bypass barriers - whether geographic, man-made or political - for a profit.' * Financial Times *
'This is a fascinating, nuanced and highly necessary account of an underworld that is much discussed but little understood, written by two of the leading experts in the field. I highly recommend it.' * Patrick Kingsley, The Guardian *
'Powerful analysis, groundbreaking research, vividly and journalistically expressed. This is a must-read for policy makers - and anyone who wants a more truthful approach to a defining story of our age.' * New Internationalist *
'A very interesting look at the human smuggling industry.'
'A graphic and highly readable account of the global human smuggling industry which dispels many of the myths surrounding this issue. Investigative journalism at its very best.' * Jeff Crisp, Research Associate, Chatham House, and former Head of Policy Development and Evaluation, UNHCR *
'Tinti and Reitano's book brings to life the tragic dimensions of the current refugee crisis and the smugglers who are an indispensable element in the refugees' mobility. Grounded in a deep knowledge of the economics, politics and corruption behind this business, the authors present an account that is both readable but contains profound insights.' * Louise Shelley, Director, Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center, George Mason University *
'Migration is one of today's game-changers and this book, rich in detail and well documented, excels in reminding the reader that migration reflects a basic human aspiration - the desire for dignity and security, but more particular, that for a better life. If this sounds familiar, it should-and no law is to change this.' * Jean-Luc Lemahieu, Director Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) *
'Tinti and Reitano offer a vivid virtual reality tour of the present-day odysseys of irregular migrants, from Aleppo and Agadez to Austria and the Arctic. Through their expert interpretation, we discover just how poorly our rigid labels capture the complexities of these informal political economies - and just how easily criminalisation can feed the smuggling industry it is meant to undermine.' * James Cockayne, Head of Office at the UN, UN University, and author of Hidden Power: The Strategic Logic of Organised Crime *