Admission requirements
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Description
This course offers an introduction to Migration History and as such is obligatory for MA students who follow the MA track Migration and Global Interdependence. The class is centered around a number of key texts that give an overview of the most important theoretical debates and analytical tools in the field of historical migration studies. The first part of the course focuses on the migration process, discussing Eurocentric versus global approaches, and including examples from the early modern period up to today. The second part of the course deals with the settlement process, discussing nation-state-centric versus transnational approaches, and including examples from academia and the public debate. Overall, the course takes a critical look at the field of Migration History itself, addressing issues of periodization, scale, ideology, and policy agenda’s. As the two interdisciplinary studies central to this course suggest, are we dealing with a Melancholy Order (McKeown 2008) and/or is there a need for Remaking the mainstream (Alba & Nee 2003)? Students are encouraged to suggest future research agendas for the field of Migration History.
Course objectives
The ability to analyze and evaluate literature and sources for the purpose of producing an original scholarly argument
Knowledge and comprehension of the historiography on Migration and Global Interdependence: the manner in which migrations (of people, goods, and ideas) between and within states have led to shifts (in cohesion, ethnic composition, policies, images, culture, and power relations) in the period 1600-2000.
Knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological aspects in studying Migration and Global Interdependence: the interdisciplinary approach (application of theories and methods from social sciences) and the comparative perspective (diachronic and synchronic)
Specific objectives:
Discussing key texts at an academic level in class
Suggesting new topics and searching for relevant literature
Presenting new topics and structuring the discussion in class
Collaborating with other students in preparing a class
Writing a 7500 word paper
Insight into the social relevance of history
Timetable
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Course Load
Total: 280 hours
Classes: 24 hours
Time needed for reading per week: 8 hours
Time needed for writing per week: 8 hours
Final paper: 64 hours
Assessment method
Assignments demonstrating the following skills: – The ability to give a clear written report on the research results in English or Dutch. – The ability to give a clear oral report on the research results in English or Dutch – The ability to provide constructive academic feedback – The ability to engage with constructive academic feedback
Final paper 7.500 words (clear written report on the research results in English) (80%) will test if the first requirement has been met.
Individual performances in class (preparation and discussion, providing and engaging in constructive academic feedback) (10%) tests if the second requirement has been met.
Evaluation of collective performances in class (group-presentation and structuring of the discussion in English) (10%) tests the third and fourth requirement.
Extra for Res Ma students:
Write a book review
Blackboard
Blackboard is used for this course:
Distributing readings
Updates schedule
Preperation group-presentations
Reading list
Buy or lend these books:
McKeown, Adam, Melancholy Order: Asian Migration and the Globalization of Borders (2008), 472 p. (Columbia University Press)
Alba, R.D. and V. Nee, Remaking the American mainstream: assimilation and contemporary immigration (2003), 384 p. (Harvard University Press)
Read before the first class meeting (articles can be downloaded via the university library website):
Jan Lucassen, Leo Lucassen (eds.), ‘Migration, Migration History, History: Old Paradigms, New Perspectives’, in: idem, Migration, Migration History, History (1999), pp. 9-38
Andreas Wimmer, Nina Glick Schiller, ‘Methodological nationalism and beyond: nation-state building, migration and the social sciences’, Global Networks 2, 4 (2002), pp. 301-334
the rest of the literature will be announced later.
Registration
via uSis