Glbl Overview Trends Migration

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

This gateway course provides conceptual and theoretical foundations as well as a global overview of recent and current processes in international migration. It covers trends in mobility and immobility, theories of migration and displacement, normative frameworks, and examines differences among internally displaced persons, refugees, and other migrants. It will have a strong focus on the ethics of the global migration regime and will also cover related topics, such as unauthorized migration and deportation, smuggling and trafficking, labor migration, remittances, and development. We will ask and seek answers to fundamental questions around global migration and forced displacement: Why do people migrate? What policies discourage or encourage people to leave? And what are the leading factors that shape the response of transit and host countries? Do ‘development-at-place’ aid reduce migration? What factors affect social and political attitudes toward migrants and refugees in host countries? We will read leading scholarly works in sociology, anthropology, political science, political theory, economics, law, and public policy. We will also analyze how influential activist-scholars, decision makers, policy analysts, immigrant community leaders, and experts from local and international organizations have addressed these issues globally. This is a learning-centered seminar designed for students to achieve (1) increased, interdisciplinary knowledge of the most pressing contemporary global migration issues and the scholarship surrounding them; and (2) better critical thinking skills on the topic through reflection, writing, and discussion. Students will be assessed on their engagement with the course material through writing assignments, group activities, and participation in class discussion. Learning Objectives: 1. Critically assess migration theories and global dynamics by identifying root causes of migration, distinguishing between voluntary and forced movements, and applying theoretical frameworks to contemporary case studies. 2. Evaluate migration governance structures and policies by analyzing the effectiveness of international legal frameworks, assessing the roles of key actors and institutions, and examining how public opinion and political factors shape policy outcomes. 3. Analyze the impacts and experiences of migration across diverse contexts by comparing categories of migrants, assessing integration barriers and opportunities, evaluating differential impacts on marginalized groups, and examining consequences for countries of origin, transit, and destination.