The Refugee Regime Going Global

This chapter re-evaluates the history of the international refugee regime, relativising the notion that the 1970s marked the emergence of ‘new problems.’ Drawing on UNHCR archives, it argues that UNHCR was aware of global population displacement since its inception in the 1950s, despite the Eurocentric limitations of the 1951 Refugee Convention. The chapter examines how UNHCR adapted its practices using its ‘good offices’ to address refugee crises worldwide. It also highlights shifts in the 1960s and 1970s, such as the prioritisation of repatriation and local development over resettlement, reflecting both internal debates and pressures from UN member states. This analysis contributes to a nuanced understanding of UNHCR’s evolving role within the international refugee regime.