Waiting on Borders

A powerful exploration of refugees, borders, camps, and the politics of waiting

Waiting on Borders by Paul Moawad examines the experiences of Syrian refugees living in informal tented settlements along the Lebanese–Syrian border. Focusing on the refugee influx that began in 2011, the book explores how borders, uncertainty, and prolonged waiting shape refugees’ lives.

Moawad shows that waiting is not only a way for authorities to control refugees through delays, uncertainty, and restricted movement. It can also become a form of resilience, resistance, and self-governance. Drawing on border and urban studies, the book examines how refugees develop everyday coping strategies with local communities and other actors to manage anxiety, displacement, and the loss of home.