by Jessica Reinisch; Published by History & Policy (2015)
Reinisch’s short policy paper argues that refugee crises cannot be understood through simplified historical analogies. She shows that while past events—such as the Kindertransport or post‑war displacement—are often invoked in public debates, these comparisons usually ignore the specific political, social, and institutional contexts that shaped them. Her central point is that history is essential for understanding refugee movements, but only when used carefully and context‑sensitively rather than as moral shortcuts or symbolic references.