Introductory description

Do you want to learn about the difference between migrants, refugees and diasporas? Do you want to know the reasons for their migration, settlement and circular and temporal mobilities across different global locations? Do you want to understand how citizens, political parties, government and international organisations relate to migration domestically and internationally? If this is so, then this module is for you! The study of migration has occupied significant attention in sociology, anthropology, and demography, as interest has surged with the acceleration of globalisation. However, studying political questions related to migration has been more recent. This module brings cutting edge research on the international politics of migration to students in the classroom and a systematic examination of political science questions that other disciplines have been little attentive to. This includes the study of how migrants, refugees and diasporas relate to the state, its territory, sovereignty, and security; how they are treated in different political regimes (democracies, autocracies, competitive authoritarianisms); how they contribute and respond to trends in the economy, conflicts and crises; how they relate to political institutions, governance, voting, and foreign policy. The module takes both a governance perspective, looking into how migration is treated by those in power, and how migrants’ agency and opposition matters in world politics. We also study globalisation and regionalisation of migration, interdependence between the Global North and Global South, and how this affects the international political order.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module is dedicated to a systematic study of the political aspects of international migration, bridging the disciplines of international relations, comparative politics and international political sociology. The first part of this module starts with delineating the differences between migrants, refugees and diasporas and lays out the evolution of international legislation and governance processes concerning these groups. We then establish the relationship between international migration and the state, its sovereignty, capacity and security. We then look into different political regimes (democracies, autocracies and competitive authoritarian regimes) and how they deal with these three migrant groups. An investigation follows into economic rationales, conflicts and crises and their impact on international migration. The second part of this module looks specifically into aspects of power, a core notion in politics, and how it is exercised by government and opposition, through political institutions and voting processes, grassroots activism by NGOs and civil society, and in foreign policy making. Our attention goes finally to the role of international migration in globalisation and regionalisation, and reshaping the international order.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• 1. Critically evaluate complex themes and a variety of approaches and debates about political questions relating to international politics of migration.
• 2. Question conventional approaches viewing international migration from a statist perspective; develop instead a new way to look at it from the intersection of domestic, transnational, and international politics.
• 3. Critically engage with issues of cultural differences carried by migration and how these are politically governed or challenged, including on issues of race, gender, class, and intersectionality, as well as concerning relations between the Global North and Global South.
• 4. Develop sophistication in articulating ideas in writing,, including through writing a book review.

Indicative reading list

Adamson, Fiona. 2006. “Crossing Borders: International Migration and National Security,” International Security 31(1): 165-199.
Cohen, Robin and Caroline Nagel (eds). 2019. Routledge Handbook of Diaspora Studies. London: Routledge (handbook).
De Haas, Hein, Stephen Castles, Mark Miller. 2020. The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World. New York: Guilford Publications.
Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, Elena, Gil Loescher, Katy Long and Nando Sigona. 2014. The Oxford Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Fitzgerald, David. 2019. Refugee Beyond Reach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gamlen, Alan. 2020. Human Geopolitics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gold, Steven J. and Stephanie J. Nawyn (eds). 2019. Routledge International Handbook of Migration Studies. London: Routledge (handbook).
Goodwin-Gill, Guy and Jane McAdam. 2021. The Refugee in International Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Greenhill, Kelly. 2016. Weapons of Mass Migration. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Hollified, James and Neil Foley (eds). 2022. Understanding Global Migration. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Kennedy, Liam (ed). 2022. Routledge International Handbook of Diaspora Diplomacy. London: Routledge.
Koinova, Maria. 2021. Diaspora Entrepreneurs and Contested States. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Koinova, Maria. 2022. “Polycentric Governance of Transit Migration” Review of International Studies, online publication 21 January.
Mavroudi, Elisabeth and Caroline Nagel. 2016. Global Migration. Patterns, Processes and Politics. London: Routledge (textbook).
Oestergaard-Nielsen, Eva and Irina Ciornei. 2018. “Political Parties and the Transnational Mobilization of the Emigrant Vote” West European Politics 42(3): 618-644.
Sadiq, Kamal and Gerasimos Tsourapas. 2021. “The Postcolonial Migration State,” European Journal of International Relations 27(3): 884-912.
Squire, Vicki, Nina Perkowski, Dallal Stevens, Nick Vaughan-Williams. 2021. Reclaiming Migration. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Research element

The summative essay will require a research on a particular subject, even if the summative essay question will be pre-defined and pre-approved.

Interdisciplinary

This module focuses on political aspects of international migration, and therefore discusses subjects in international relations, comparative politics and international political sociology.

International

The topic itself is dealing with international migration. We will be focusing on a variety of countries per se, on relationships between the Global North and Global South, and the international political order.

Subject specific skills

1. Analyse political processes concerning international migrants, refugees and diasporas in a differentiated way.
2. Learn about international politics of migration in countries with different types of statehood and political regimes.
3. Analyse political processes from both a governance perspective and that of migrants’ agency.
4. Differentiate arguments on international migration from a security and human rights perspective.
5. Learn about the interdependence, transnationalism of people and foreign policies of countries from the Global North and Global South.
6. Acquire empirical knowledge on international migration politics from various parts of the globe.

Transferable skills

The module provides students with opportunities to acquire or develop the following key skills:

• Written communication skills
• Oral communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Skills in the use of information technology
• Skills of interpretation and the critical analysis of primary and secondary sources
• Awareness and sensitivity to diversity (in terms of people, cultures) and the ability to understand unfamiliar ideas and ways of thinking
• Ability to digest, retain and apply complex information and ideas
• Ability to conduct research and reference their work appropriately
• Time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
• The ability to reflect critically on the extent and limitations of how and what they have learned, discovered and understood.
• Collaborative skills