pbRefugees have existed since ancient times but it was in the early modern era that they first became a distinct social and political category. This open access book maps the early modern 'invention of the refugee' and in the process uncovers their impact on local, regional, and transnational politics. b pWith case studies ranging from Scandinavia to the Maghreb, iRefugee Politics in Early Modern Europei traces how refugees transformed Europe. Topics explored include the development of refugees as a political group in early modern societies the role of displaced minorities in forging humanitarian networks and the impact of refugees on migration management and imperialism. Most notably, this collection of essays moves beyond discussions of expulsion and flight to shine a spotlight on how states responded critically and constitutionally to refugees - as a means of galvanizing social groups, reinforcing identities, promoting activities, and expanding bureaucratic reach. The result is a so