Introductory description

Are you interested in leaning about international politics related to migrants, refugees, and diasporas? Curious about the reasons behind their movements, patterns of settlement, and the dynamics of circular and temporary mobility across global regions? Do you want to explore how citizens, political parties, governments, and international organisations engage with migration both domestically and internationally? If so, this module is for you.
Migration has long been a central focus in disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, and demography, especially as globalisation has intensified. However, the political dimensions of migration have only recently begun to receive systematic scholarly attention. This module introduces students to cutting-edge research in the international politics of migration, offering a political science perspective on issues often overlooked by other fields.
Key topics include:

1. The relationship between migrants, refugees, diasporas, and the state—particularly in terms of territory, sovereignty, and security.
2. The treatment of migrants under different political regimes, including democracies, autocracies, and hybrid systems.
3. The impact of migration on economic trends, conflict, and crisis response.
4. Migrants’ roles in political institutions, governance, electoral politics, and foreign policy.
5. The module examines how migration is governed by those in power, and how migrants themselves exercise agency and resistance in global politics.
6. It further explores the global and regional dimensions of migration, the interdependence between the Global North and Global South, and the implications for 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

Reading lists can be found in Talis

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