Publication: January, 2027, Monthly Review Press
Description
Why Did I Not Die with My Family? offers an intimate and unflinching account of the so-called European refugee crisis, told first and foremost through the voices of the people who endured it. Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, West Africa, and beyond describe in their own words the impossible conditions that drove them from home, the perilous journeys across the sea, the desert, and along the Balkan route, and the harsh reality of confinement in camps on the Aegean islands. Their testimonies speak of fear and violence, but also of dignity, humor, friendship, and resilience in the face of systemic neglect.
Alongside these personal narratives runs a critical analysis of how European governments responded to the largest forced displacements since World War II. Instead of offering safe passage or honoring international obligations, the EU pursued a so-called Fortress Europe policy whose primary aim was deterrence. Overcrowded camps where asylum seekers were detained in inhumane conditions for years, violent pushbacks at sea and on land, the criminalization of sea rescue, and agreements with countries with dubious human rights records: All were designed to keep people out. These policies, framed using terms like “security” and “national sovereignty,” often amounted to violations of refugee and human rights law.
By weaving lived experience together with historical and political context, the book exposes the deeper legacies of colonialism, inequality, and global extraction that continue to drive displacement. It challenges the comforting myths of European humanitarianism, revealing how wealth and security are preserved at the expense of human lives. At the same time, the book insists on hope: the persistence of solidarity networks, the courage of refugees themselves, and the possibility of a more just response. It is both a record of suffering and a call to remember that behind every statistic lies a human story.
Testimonials
“Informative, lucid, and deeply affecting. I strongly recommend Richard Hardigan’s book.” – Norman Finkelstein.
“True to his legacy as a writer dedicated to unveiling truths through lived human experiences, Richard Hardigan once again establishes himself as a master of people’s history. Why Did I Not Die with My Family? delivers unadulterated truth grounded in historical context. This volume is far more than a mere recounting of the horrors refugees face in Europe, or a critique of the continent’s brutal, selective migration policies; it offers a holistic framework for understanding the root causes of the displacement crisis and the West’s undeniable culpability in engineering it. Why Did I Not Die with My Family? is an indispensable document — not only so that future historians may comprehend what transpired during the pivotal decade following the 2015 influx, but to understand what is unfolding today, and what will inevitably occur tomorrow if this hypocrisy, double-dealing, and moral collapse are not remedied for good.” – Dr. Ramzy Baroud, Editor of the Palestine Chronicle and author of ‘Before the Flood’ and ‘My Father Was a Freedom Fighter’.
“A vital insight into the ongoing human cost of Europe’s deadly border policies” – Daniel Trilling, author of Lights in the Distance: Exile and Refuge at the Borders of Europe.
“Drawing on gripping personal narratives of refugees and first-hand reporting from the front lines, Richard Hardigan exposes the heartbreaking tragedies of migration to Europe. An essential guide to understand one of the defining issues of our time.” – Reece Jones, author of Smuggler: Drugs, Gangs, and Refugees at America’s Northern Border.
“An important contribution to humanising the millions of people seeking sanctuary in Europe. Hardigan skilfully ties the human stories to a clear headed analysis of the conflicts driving asylum seekers across the sea and exposes the political resistance that underpins the shocking welcome that they receive when they arrive.” – Ben Rawlence, Author of City of Thorns, The Treeline and Think Like a Forest.
“Behind every statistic is a human being. Richard Hardigan gives voice to those too often reduced to numbers, headlines, or political talking points. Through powerful testimony and careful research, this book offers a compelling account of displacement, survival, and the human consequences of Europe’s border policies.”— Tommy Olsen, Founder, Aegean Boat Report.