The Invisible Cage

"This books makes an important contribution to the analysis of Syro-Lebanese relations and is of special interest to students of labor migration, particularly those concerned with issues of 'south-south' patterns of migration and temporary migration with returning cycles." ~Thomas Philip, American Historical Review

"John Chalcraft provides a convincing and multifaceted analysis of this important and ongoing chapter of Mediterranean economic and social history." ~Jörg Michael Dostal, The Times Higher Education

"Full of rich analysis, this book succeeds in opening up a Middle Eastern case study to the field of transnational migration and convincingly shows how a labor market can interact with political structures to confine migrant workers within an invisible cage. An ideal angle from which to understand the complexity of Lebanese-Syrian relations." ~Elizabeth Picard, Institute for Research and Study on the Arab and Muslim World, France

"The Invisible Cage lucidly deconstructs simple arguments about migration, showing how hegemony operates in a menial labor regime heavily dependent on migrant labor. This book is strong and to the point, and it covers material no other work does." ~Ussama Makdisi, Rice University