Despite it not offering a solution to the migrant crisis, the book nevertheless provides a basis for understanding it, according to Yovanka Perdigao

Perdigao, Yovanka

LSE Research Online

Book	Review:	Migrant,	Refugee,	Smuggler,	Saviorby	Peter	Tinti	and	Tuesday	ReitanoDespite	it	not	offering	a	solution	to	the	migrant	crisis,	the	book	nevertheless	provides	a	basis	for	understanding	it,according	to	Yovanka	Perdigao.	Without	a	doubt,	Migrant,	Refugee,	Smuggler,	Savior	by	Peter	Tinti	and	Tuesday	Reitano	is	a	must	read.	Thisbook	takes	readers	on	a	journey	through	the	highly	complex	business	of	human	smuggling	where	the	linesbetween	savior	and	criminal	easily	blur.	Each	section	meshes	real	life	accounts	of	migrants	and	smugglers,	givingus	an	intimate	view	into	their	world.This	book	is	the	result	of	grueling	research	divided	into	two	parts,	exploring	indepth	the	various	networks	and	economies	from	West	Africa	to	North	Africa,Turkey	and	Eastern	Europe.	It	reveals	how	vast	and	ingrained	this	multi-billiondollar	industry	has	become.	The	high	demand	for	crossing	the	Mediterraneanhas	skyrocketed	with	the	Syrian	refugee	crisis.	For	smugglers,	it	has	becomean	extremely	profitable	enterprise	that	can	no	longer	be	stopped	with	Europeandeals	and	aid.	Nothing	is	clearer	as	Tinti	and	Reitano	take	us	through	the	manytowns	and	regions	that	have	become	central	hubs	of	the	smuggling	business.For	example,	in	the	chapter	“Lybia	:Out	of	Africa”,	the	city	of	Zuwarah,	due	toits	geographical	proximity	to	Lampedusa,	becomes	a	major	launching	pad	forboats	after	the	fall	of	Gaddafi.	With	the	influx	of	Syrian	refugees,	the	city’seconomy	becomes	centered	on	the	illicit	crossing	of	theMediterranean.Meanwhile	in	Egypt,	we	see	how	the	demand	for	such	servicespushes	the	smuggling	industry	to	professionalise,	giving	rise	to	kingpinsprotected	by	local	police.In	“Desert	Highway:	Agadez	and	the	Sahel”,	we	are	presented	with	the	grim	prospects	that	await	young	people	inNiger,	therefore	tempting	them	to	a	life	of	riches	and	dangers	in	the	smuggling	industry	as	they	pose	Instagramstyle	with	guns	in	the	desert.Meanwhile	in	Turkey,	president	Erdogan	has	forced	Europe	to	strike	a	Faustian	pact.	The	mass	arrival	of	Syrianmigrants	in	Turkey	attempting	to	cross	illegally	through	Turkey	into	Europe,	has	European	leaders	cornered.	Theymust	now	face	the	consequences	of	their	involvement	in	Syria	and	subject	to	Erdogan’s	demands.At	the	same	time,	in	the	island	of	Kos	in	Greece,	the	racial,	social	and	economic	disparities	between	Syrians,Eritreans,	Bangladeshis	and	others	becomes	apparent.	The	writers	recount	how	in	the	wake	of	desperation	andfew	resources,	differences	become	paramount:“The	Syrians,	Iraqis,	Afghans	all	turn	their	frustration	towards	the	Pakistanis,	Bangladeshis,	Iranians,	and	thehandful	of	Africans	the	queue,	who	they	believe	are	not	“real”	refugees.”Africa at LSE: Book Review: Migrant, Refugee, Smuggler, Savior by Peter Tinti and Tuesday Reitano Page 1 of 2		Date originally posted: 2017-09-29Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2017/09/29/book-review-migrant-refugee-smuggler-savior-by-peter-tinti-and-tuesday-reitano/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/Photo	of	African	migrant	in	SpainPhoto	credit:	John	Perivolaris	via	Flickr	(http://bit.ly/2skpWgP)	CC	BY-NC-ND	2.0However,	what	is	more	interesting	is	how	the	writers	describe	the	island	to	be	alive	with	“travel”	agencies,	buses,and	smugglers,	all	operating	in	broad	daylight.	All	of	this	only	serves	to	show	how	complex	the	smugglingbusiness	is	as	Reitano	and	Tinti	demonstrate	in	the	first	part	of	the	book.	We	learn	how	the	industry	operates,	therules	and	practices	that	govern	this	world.	How	profitable	Syrian	lives	are,	how	less	valuable	African	lives	havebecome	in	the	eyes	of	some	smugglers	where	only	top	dollar	counts.	We	learn	about	reputation	and	damagingreviews,	even	migrants	rate	like	we	do	on	yelp	for	smuggling	services.	Thankfully,	third-party	insurers	holdingtheir	payments	serve	as	meagre	protection	in	case	the	operation	fails.	But	more	frightening,	we	learn	howsophisticated,	how	criminal	this	industry	has	become	with	criminal	businesses	interacting	with	political	andsecurity	apparatuses	of	many	countries:“Through	reinforced	borders	and	ever-shifting	policies	that	no	migrant	can	hope	to	navigate	alone,	Europeanpolicy	has	provided	the	perfect	environment	for	these	types	of	networks	to	flourish.	Inside	fortress	Europa,	thecriminal	are	king.”However,	do	not	expect	finding	a	solution	to	the	migrant	crisis	within	this	book.	This	is	more	of	a	somber	reminderthat	no	simplistic	or	quick	solution	will	end	the	crisis	but	it	provides	a	start	to	understand	it.	Migrant,	Refugee,	Smuggler,	Savior.	Peter	Tinti	and	Tuesday	Reitano.	Hurst	Publishers.	2016	Yovanka	Paquete	Perdigao	is	a	writer	inspired	by	issues	of	trauma,	race	and	gender.	She	currently	works	asthe	Africa	Research	Institute’s	Communications	Officer.	The	views	expressed	in	this	post	are	those	of	the	author	and	in	no	way	reflect	those	of	the	Africa	at	LSEblog,	the	Firoz	Lalji	Centre	for	Africa	or	the	London	School	of	Economics	and	Political	Science.		Africa at LSE: Book Review: Migrant, Refugee, Smuggler, Savior by Peter Tinti and Tuesday Reitano Page 2 of 2		Date originally posted: 2017-09-29Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2017/09/29/book-review-migrant-refugee-smuggler-savior-by-peter-tinti-and-tuesday-reitano/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/

Book review: migrant, refugee, smuggler, savior by Peter Tinti and Tuesday Reitano

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