ASOA15022U Migration, Refugees and citizenship in a Globalized World

Volume 2015/2016
Education

BA/MA Elective course

Specialiseringslinje (KA 2005):Politisk Sociologi

Course package (MSc Curriculum 2015): Knowledge, organisation and politics

Content

MODULE DESCRIPTION

Human migration has shaped the world we live in and, despite contemporary efforts to control the movement of people, there is every reason to believe that migration will continue to shape human communities—and world politics—in the future. The massive movement of people across national boundaries is fuelled by a host of powerful forces, including: refugees whom states are obligated to protect, rising demand for both skilled and unskilled labour in aging industrial societies; a decreased capacity or willingness to control the movement of people in a globalised world economy; and the continued upheaval and lack of opportunity in large parts of the developing countries. Taken together, the forces that favour migration might seem to resemble the proverbial irresistible force. At the same time, immigration is accompanied by a host of social, economic and political tensions. Migrants are blamed for increased crime and social disintegration. Immigration provokes fears of reduced wages and increased competition for jobs, social services, and preservation of national cohesion, Above all migration is viewed by many as a threat to national sovereignty and national identity. As a result, the past two decades has witnessed fundamental changes in immigration policy, and sharp upsurge of xenophobic parties and movements around the world, most notably in Western Europe. At present immigration is amongst one of the most hotly contested issues and around the world and also has become a priority issue in Europe. This is a function of both the end of the Cold War and trends towards increased globalisation witnessed in recent decades. This module will examine international migration within the context of the on-going processes of globalisation and uneven development.

Learning Outcome

MODULE AIMS

This module introduces students to global trends in international migration and to give a good understanding of the central patterns, processes and issues in European migration and diaspora. The current “migration crisis” is examined through analysis of immigration's impact on the nation state and society, and the response by the state and supranational institution (EU) to this challenge in terms of border control policies and policies towards immigrants. Students will learn to assess the dynamics of international migration and integration in a comparative perspective, and to identify general and specific theories pertaining to these dynamics and stemming from various academic disciplines. Students will be asked to apply these theories to concrete case(s) from readings and/or their own case, and in doing so, putting theoretical notions to an empirical test. To this end, it will examine a range of contemporary issues such as migration processes, trends in policies towards asylum-seekers and refugees, control, integration policies, harmonisation and its effects, including trafficking and smuggling, multiculturalism, changing social attitude, securitisation, racism, and the response of political parties to migratory issues. Geographically, the module will cover the entire world, but with emphasis on the situation in Europe

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the course students will: 

• Have a critical understanding of key theoretical debates about international migration and refugee regime

• Know the main patterns of migration and refugees in Europe, how they have evolved over time,  how they have affected the receiving countries, and policy responses to migration

• Understand key terms and concepts which are often applied in current debates about migration – such as Integration, assimilation, multiculturalism, Citizenship,  transnationalism, and the migration-security nexus etc.;

•Be able to demonstrate this detailed and critical knowledge and understanding in written and verbal form

Indicative reading

 Stephen Castles and Mark J. Miller (2014) Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World (Fifth edition), Palgrave: Mcamillan.

A detailed reading guide will provided at www.KUnet.dk

This contains all the essential materials for the course, including the online syllabus, supplementary bibliography, online linked resources, course calendar, power-point slides, announcements, and other materials

Target group/Student profile:
The course is primarily intended for students of social sciences and humanities with Intermediate academic level-
The format of the course is primarily lectures and structured discussion.
Lecture Topics:
1.Introduction and overview: Migration studies in the era of
globlaisation
2.Theories of International Immigration: Why do people move?
3.The Global Economy and Labour Migration in Post-War Europe:
History and Development
4.Forced Migration – Refugees and Asylum Seekers
5.The Changing Nature of Migration Politics in Europe: The State
of Harmonization
6. Can States Control Migration and Refugees? -- The Ethics and
Politics of Close Borders
7. Close Borders? Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration
8. Immigrant incorporation and Assimilation: Politics and Policies 9. Alternatives to Assimilation: Multiculturalism (and its Critics)
and Citizenship
10. From International Migration to Transnational Diaspora
11.The Politics of Resentment: Immigration and the Rise of
Extreme Right
12. The Power of Fear: Securitisation of Migration and the
Radicalisation of ethnic minorities in Europe
13.Ethnic Minorities, racialisation and [New] Racism in Europe
14. The Politics of Immigration and Integration in Denmark
INDICATIVE WORKLOAD
The number of lecture hours are the same for both 7,5 and 10 ECTS courses.

7,5 ECTS:
Lectures: 28
Course preparation:60
Exercises: 60
Project work: 58
Total: 206

10 ECTS:
Lectures: 28
Course preparation: 80
Exercises: 80
Project work: 87
Total: 275
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Exercises
  • 60
  • Preparation
  • 60
  • Project work
  • 58
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Individual/group. See further details in the curriculum
Exam registration requirements

Sociology students must be enrolled under MSc Curriculum 2015 to take this exam.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Internal examiners
Exam period

Submission dates and time will be available at KUnet, www.kunet.dk. Exchange students and danish full degree guest students please see the homepage of Sociology; http://www.soc.ku.dk/english/education/exams/ and http://www.soc.ku.dk/uddannelser/meritstuderende/eksamen/

Criteria for exam assesment

Please see the learning outcome.

Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination
Individual/group. See further details in the curriculum
see details concerning form of examination exam in the curriculum
Exam registration requirements

Sociology students must be enrolled under MSc Curriculum 2005 or BSc Curriculum to take this exam.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Internal examiners
Exam period

Submission dates and time will be available at KUnet, www.kunet.dk. Exchange students and danish full degree guest students please see the homepage of Sociology; http://www.soc.ku.dk/english/education/exams/ and http://www.soc.ku.dk/uddannelser/meritstuderende/eksamen/

Criteria for exam assesment

Please see the learning outcome.