Should Refugees Govern Refugee Camps?

Should refugees govern refugee camps? This paper argues that they should. It draws on normative political thought in consulting the all-subjected principle. According to this principle, all those subjected to rule in a distinct governance structure ought to have a say in such rule. Through analyzing the conditions that pertain in refugee camps, the paper demonstrates that the conditions for the all subjected principle to apply hold in the case of refugee camps. Refugee camps often form distinct social, economic, legal and political microcosms. Within these, refugees are subjected to rule. The paper argues that democratic self-governance of refugee camps is normatively desirable as it provides refugees with the ability to control the conditions that govern their lives, define what violates as compared to legitimately restricts their personal autonomy, and inform decision makers of where the threats to their well-being lie.