Introducing International Refugee Law as a Scholarly Field

Subject(s):

Asylum — Expulsion — Internally displaced persons — Regional co-operation — Armed conflict

This introductory chapter provides an overview of international refugee law. Since the adoption of the Refugee Convention, international refugee law has emerged as a dynamic and ever-challenging area of international law, particularly as its relationship to other branches of international law continues to be explored and understood. The chapter reflects on the emergence of international refugee law as a scholarly sub-discipline in the twentieth century, and its role within the wider area of refugee studies. It focuses on the important interface between scholarship and praxis in the sub-discipline’s development, as well as the field’s methodological strengths and weaknesses. Finally, it presents some observations about the future of international refugee law, identifying potential challenges and opportunities.