With the aim of understanding continuity and change in Tanzania's refugee hosting policy, the first part of the paper examines the ideological, economic and political underpinnings of German–British attitudes to immigrants. Pointers are provided as to which of these tendencies were transformed and which carried over in the asylum and refugee policy of the postcolonial state. The burden of history on independent Tanzania's outlook towards refugees is highlighted. The second part discusses the impact on asylum seekers of Pan‐Africanism, Julius Nyerere's humanist philosophy and the remoulding of Tanzanian state ideology after African socialism, and considers the debate whether refugees are economically exploited in the postcolonial setting. In the third part, Tanzania's abandonment of its Open Door policy in the 1990s is analysed and linked to the economic liberalization measures that have had a negative impact on the ability and willingness of the state to host refugees. Finally, recommendations are made for reversing the alarming trend of Tanzanian ‘hosting fatigue’ and significant conclusions drawn from the broad historical survey conducted throughout the essay.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sreeram Chaulia (2003) studied this question.