What is International Migration? Theories, Trends, Myths, and Current Debates

Undergraduate

International migration is one of the most pressing, consequential, and debated issues of our time. The movement of people across national borders shapes states, cities, law, international organizations, and ordinary families and communities alike. Yet we rarely pause to ask: what exactly is international migration? Who migrates and who doesn’t? What drives migration flows? What are the major global trends when we compare the ways people move across the world? This course offers a window into the major theories and methods through which international migration has been conceptualized and studied. A central goal is to demystify common misconceptions by engaging with empirical evidence on where, who, when, and how people migrate. Students explore theoretical frameworks developed across the social sciences and examine cases from around the world, from demographic patterns to individual testimonies. The course compares migration trends beyond the United States, covering cases in Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe, and examines different forms of migration: undocumented and high-skilled, forced and voluntary, climate-induced and economically motivated. Understanding international migration is essential to understanding our contemporary world. This course equips students with the analytical tools and empirical knowledge to engage critically with one of the defining social phenomena of our era. This course is open to all students. SO MW 2:35pm-3:50pm