The Establishment And Evolution Of The International Refugee Regime

Since the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, the refugee regime has evolved with our modern state system, reflecting changes in international law, politics, economics and ideology. Since the date of establishment, the international refugee regime has made important contributions to the global refugee relief and the stability of the international community. However, faced with an increasingly grim situation, the development of the international refugee regime is full of challenges. In today’s world, the refugee problem, no matter in terms of scale or complexity, has reached the most difficult situation since World War II. Local war, racial conflict and poverty, famine, large displacement and asylum challenges emerge in endlessly, humanitarian needs and the gap between the existing resources increase, as well as the growing xenophobia, makes the international society urgently need a more comprehensive and effective refugee regime. Analysis the establishment and development context of the international refugee regime, weigh the roles and defects of the current international refugee regime, can help us grasp the complex and changeable refugee situation more clearly in today’s world, regulating the behavior of countries, so as to seek a long-term solution to refugee problem. Besides the introduction and conclusion, this article is mainly divided into four parts.Part one:refugees and the international refugee regimeThis part introduces refugees and the international refugee regime from three aspects: Firstly, simple definition the concept of refugees and the international refugee regime, the definition of refugees primarily based on the status of refugee convention of 1951 and the status of refugee protocol of 1967 that are generally accepted by the international community. As a form of international regime, the international refugee regime is the government which adopts and supports a collection of conventions and treaties. Through the financial aid, the government protects those refugees who have to flee their homeland due to political persecution or war. These agreements and practices provide extensive protection for those who exiled as of the general war persecution (even if it did not hurt by the targeted persecuted); Secondly, analysis the motivations of the establishment and development of the international refugee regime, which mainly includes humanitarian motivation, national interest motivation and ideological motivation; Finally, analysis the meaning of the international refugee regime, on the one hand, based on the serious situation of the refugees, it is necessary for us to establish the international refugee regime, on the other hand, the establishment of the international refugee regime has important influence to the international community, to promote international cooperation and standardize the state act, effectively promote us to solve the global refugee problem.Part two:the evolution of the international refugee regimeThis part is the focus of the paper, which mainly conducts a systematic review of the evolution of international refugee regime from three aspects:First of all, the origin of the international refugee regime before the 1950s. This period can be divided into three stages: the early formation of the international refugee regime, construction of the international refugee regime between the two world wars and the postwar international refugee regime construction. From the High Commissioner for Refugees from Russia, the High Commissioner for Refugees from Germany, the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees(IGCR), the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency(UNRRA), to the International Refugee Organization(IRO), During this period, the international refugee regime has experienced many evolution; Second, the development of the international refugee regime between the 1950s and the 1980s. The development of international refugee regime was dependent on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), despite the influence of the superpower confrontation during the Cold War, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) was gradually recognized, quickly developed into a global humanitarian aid organization; Finally, from the 1990s, the international refugee regime faces with both opportunities and challenges. As the change of the international system and the increasingly serious situation of the international refugee regime. The international refugee regime, centered on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), faces with opportunities and challenges.Part three:the problems of the international refugee regimeWith the continuous growth of refugee crisis and the worsening situation of refugees, the defects and shortcomings of the international refugee regime appear gradually, embodied in the following respects:firstly, the international refugee regime has some inherent differences, especially in race and gender; secondly, every country’s understanding of the refugee regime operation regulations differs obviously, particularly the state’s responsibility, the refugee definition and the interpretation of the principle of non-refoulement; Then, the operation of international refugee regime is affected by the consciousness of "sovereign state"; Finally, the running of the international refugee regime lacks funds, the continuous growth of displaced persons brings a huge challenge for the UNHCR’s aid plan and fund-raising.Part four:North-South cooperation of the international refugee regimeThe global refugee problem is not only a humanitarian issue that needs charity relief, but also a political problem. To solve the refugee problem effectively, we require international cooperation, however, international cooperation is one of the weakest point in refugee problem solving. For a long time, "the north-south impasse" continues, where developed countries often escape their responsibility, developing countries are often helpless. To break the "north-south impasse ", we need to take measures to promote the north-south cooperation and solve the refugee problems effectively. First of all, elevate the status of the UNHCR as a refugee protection agency; Secondly, rethink the aid to the third world countries; Then, establish the compulsory coordination and responsibility sharing mechanism between nations; At last, take sustained and effective preventive action.