Global Migrations and Heath

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

As global events such as climate change-induced natural disasters, public health emergencies, and political violence push vulnerable populations across borders more frequently, health systems comprised of an array of services provided by the state, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and charities are forced to grapple with new pressures around human rights provision. As such, political and technology-based solutions to health care provision during and after migratory events are already occupying significant policy space in international affairs. Within this, different migratory patterns employ distinct tactics based on their political, geographic, institutional, and social contexts. As health and migration rise to the top of stakeholder agendas worldwide, new solutions will be required to meet the current moment. In this course, students will build an interdisciplinary knowledge of the academic concepts that inform debates in health and migration, applying them to real-world migratory events. In doing so, students will evaluate the diverse approaches used by different stakeholders, and practice translating technical arguments around health and migration themes into accessible and engaging presentations and written reports.The course is divided into three main sections, with an introductory week that provides an overview of the course and a conclusionary week in which students will present their final projects. The first part of the course will engage the “what” of health and migration studies by identifying and evaluating major debates and concepts that animate research and policy making. Topics in these weeks include: citizenship rights and human rights; differentiated membership; and border health care. During the second part of the course students will engage the “who” of health and migration by asking what it means to approach these debates from the viewpoints of different stakeholders. By putting themselves in the role of NGOs, national governments, global governance actors, and activist organizations, students will evaluate how different actors manage migration (or don’t) and organize care (or don’t) for displaced persons of varying legal status. The third part of the course will engage with the “where” of health and migration studies by applying course concepts and stakeholder knowledge to three global migration patterns: Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic, African migrations to Europe via Italy, and Rohingya refugee migrations to South and Southeast Asia.