Migration, Intersectionality, Human Rights

(3 Credits)

According to the United Nations, the global number of forcibly displaced people worldwide surpassed 100 million, breaking all previous records. This number continues to increase due to ongoing political unrest, violence, and climate crisis. Despite the increase in global displacement numbers, it is vital to acknowledge the heightened xenophobia and racism experienced by immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers across the globe. It is equally important to consider how political discourse on who is deserving of resettlement is shaped by legacies of colonialism, racism, and imperialism. This course will explore global migration through an intersectional human rights framework that allows students to critically examine forced displacement through holistic anti-oppressive and anti-racist perspectives. In doing so, we will cover a wide range of issues facing displaced populations including refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented minors, and stateless people. Students will also learn about how responses from policymakers including governments, UN agencies, and NGOs shape and impact the lives of displaced people.