ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with survivors of political oppression, most of whom have been refugees to the UK, mainly from what are commonly referred to as “third world” countries. It is concerned with terrorised clients and with the ways in which we can ourselves individually and collectively become terrorised and can furthermore become terrorising. The economic dimension becomes increasingly important in recognising the impact of the lowly economic status, deprivation, and at times destitution that refugees experience in the UK which, along with the often present threat of deportation, serves to constitute states of continuing traumatic stress. Some of the states of terror can be found in populations, both those living under overtly oppressive regimes, and those in allegedly democratic societies. The components of terror, fear, anger, fragmented narratives, defences against guilt, dissociation from what is actually being done, etc., all play their parts in establishing bystander positions.
