In this episode of Across Archives, host Pia from The Refugee Archive speaks with Dr. Benjamin Thomas White, Senior Lecturer in History at the University of Glasgow and co-editor of RefugeeHistory.org.Benjamin takes us through the global history of refugees — from early humanitarian camps of the First World War to today’s refugee crises — and reveals what these histories can teach us about forced displacement, nationhood, and how the world responds to people on the move.As a Middle East historian, Benjamin shares how his research in Syria, Iraq, France, and the UK led him toward refugee history. He reflects on why refugee voices are often missing from official archives, how the modern refugee camp emerged, and why public debates often misunderstand the structural causes of displacement.This conversation offers a powerful reminder that refugee histories are global, connected, and essential for understanding the world we live in today.Key Topics• How Benjamin shifted from Middle East history to global refugee history• The origins of modern refugee camps and what they reveal about humanitarianism• Why refugee voices are often missing from archives — and why that matters• What refugee history teaches us about today’s refugee policies and narrativesResources & LinksRefugee History: https://refugeehistory.orgDr. Benjamin’s blog: https://singularthings.wordpress.comJournal of Global History article: “UNHCR and the Algerian War of Independence” (2022)University of Glasgow: School of HumanitiesAbout Across ArchivesAcross Archives is produced by The Refugee Archive, a storytelling and research initiative highlighting how archives, oral histories, and community storytelling preserve the lived experiences of migrants, immigrants, internally displaced people (IDPs), and refugees worldwide.Together with our companion series, The Archive Speaks, we explore how archives can amplify refugee voices, build solidarity, and reshape how the record of displacement is remembered.🎧 Continue the journey on The Archive Speaks, featuring the real voices of displaced women and single mothers around the world.