Description
Migration control is one of the most debated issues of our times. This seminar will give fundamental insights into the key dilemmas that states face when designing and implementing migration policies. It draws on state-of-the-art research and mobilizes historical and contemporary examples from around the world to examine the drivers, dynamics and effects of migration policies. We will investigate the following questions: Who are the key actors that shape migration policymaking? How do the politics of border control differ from the politics of family reunification or low-skilled labor migration? Is migration governance in democracies fundamentally different from that in autocracies? And are migration policies effective in shaping the volume and composition of global migration?
The seminar first looks at the origins and trends of migration control across the globe. It then zooms into the policymaking process and discusses the role of different actors and factors in migration policy: public opinion, civil society, political parties and courts, as well as human rights norms, foreign policy and transnational business interests. Lastly, we will explore policy implementation dynamics, i.e. what migration policy does on the ground. The overall objective of the course is to equip students with the necessary theoretical and empirical knowledge to understand the complex dynamics that shape migration policymaking and to critically evaluate new developments in migration control.
Course objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to
1. identify the dilemmas that (inter)national actors face in migration policymaking;
2. explain the core scientific debates and theories on migration policymaking;
3. compare migration policy dynamics and effects from around the globe;
4. critically assess media and political discourses on migration politics;
5. train public speaking and policy analysis skills.
Mode of instruction
Seminars will be structured around discussions of the literature, occasional input lectures, as well as a mix of group work, case studies, quizzes and class debates that will allow you to understand the dynamics at stake in migration policymaking.
Course Load
This 10 EC seminar requires 280 hours of study:
Seminar attendance (4h/week, 7 weeks) = 28h
Weekly reading and course preparation (8h/session, 13 sessions) = 104h
Work on discussion leadership= 12h
Work on reflection paper = 30h
Work on vlog = 16h
Work on final paper = 90h
Assessment method
The course is assessed through the following four elements:
20% Participation and discussion leadership
20% Reflection paper on audio-visual resource
10% Vlog on final essay idea
50% Final Essay
Reading list
There is no textbook for this course. Readings include book chapters and journal articles from political science, as well as related disciplines such as sociology, area studies, political geography, anthropology, law and economics. In addition, we will discuss policy reports, as well as podcasts and documentaries.
Registration
See general info on tab 'Year 3'