Gill Loescher is overwhelmingly good on the decision-making of past High Commissioners as it relates to the international operations of the UNHCR, and the internal bureaucracy of the UNHCR insofar as this affects its operational capacity. In its detail on those operations Loescher's book does exactly what it says on the tin, and is the superlative modern political history of the UNHCR.
International and Comparative Law Quarterly
Aside from being a masterful overview of UNHCR and the evolution of the refugee crisis over the last fifty years, this book is a remarkable example of the blending of disciplinary approaches. I should imagine it will be of particular value to postgraduates and academics in International Relations or Political Science, but will also prove valuable for scholars in related disciplines, including Geography, Sociology and History. It should also be required reading for every employee of UNHCR. It is well-written, smartly produced and the bibliography and index are valuable props.
Millennium: Journal of International Studies
Gil Loescher provides the first systematic analysis of [the] remarkable transformation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ... In writing this volume, he has had access to UNHCR documents and staff that I imagine is unique for an academic, and has also interviewed a number of the previous High Commissioners. Still, he has maintained his independence and has produced a balanced analysis that is critical when it is needed.
Millennium: Journal of International Studies