Refugees in inter-war Europe
Subtitle: the emergence of a regime
By: Claudena M. Skran.
Publisher: Clarendon Press; Oxford University Press
Published: 1995
Place of publication: Oxford [England]; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 324
Subjects: Refugees -- Europe -- History -- 20th century; Refugees -- Government policy -- Europe -- History -- 20th century; Europe -- Emigration and immigration -- History -- 20th century
Description: In inter-war Europe, millions of refugees, including Russians, Armenians, Greeks, and Jews, constituted a major humanitarian and political issue. This book examines the origins of refugee movements of the 1920s and 1930s and international responses to them. The book argues that international assistance efforts by governments, the League of Nations, and private organizations were part of an international regime, and this regime had - and continues to have - a significant impact on refugee policy.

During the inter-war years, the first international refugee law was developed, the first refugee settlement projects were carried out, and the first High Commissioner for refugees was appointed. Over time, the influence of the regime contributed to the establishment of a special status for people who flee their home country because of war or persecution, a status that differentiated refugees from economic migrants, and gave them preferential treatment in domestic and international law.

. The rapidly growing importance of refugee issues in contemporary international politics means that the questions explored in this book continue to be as relevant as ever.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [297]-314) and index.