The Refugees in the 21st Century course provides a comprehensive introduction to one of the most complex and pressing global challenges: forced displacement. It takes a global perspective to explore who refugees are, where they come from, and the routes and conditions that shape their journeys.
A central focus of the course is the international system designed to protect refugees. Learners examine key legal frameworks, particularly the 1951 Refugee Convention, as well as the role of major actors such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The course explains how refugee status is defined and applied in practice, highlighting the distinction between everyday and legal understandings of the term.
Through structured modules and interactive learning, participants analyze the causes of displacement, including conflict, persecution, and broader socio-political factors. The course also explores possible “durable solutions” for refugees, such as resettlement, integration, and return, while critically assessing the effectiveness of current global responses.
Overall, the course equips learners with a strong conceptual and practical understanding of refugee protection in the modern world, emphasizing both the complexity of the issue and the need for informed, humane responses.
