Capstone: Global Migration

Catalog description

Migration has become a topic of increasing focus and concern in the 21st century, with some arguing that it will be one of the defining issues of our time. This is certainly the case for those tens of millions of individuals who are currently on the move, for the sending communities and societies from which them emigrate and the destinations that receive them, and the nation-states that control their entrance and exit. In this seminar, we will cover the "big" issues of migration in a comparative format through engagement with some of the most important examples of the extensive body of literature in Migration Studies. Concretely, we will critically examine: the demographics of migration in key regions of the world; theories that explain mobility; host-immigrant relations and integration; the role of gender, race, and ethnicity in migration; the growth of transnational ties as an aspect of globalization; security; and the analysis of immigration policies and citizenship. Throughout the course of the semester, we will question continually challenge ourselves to question the approach to migration as a problem to be solves versus as a process to manage. As a capstone seminar, Global Migration as Problem and Process includes reading requirements that are extensive and challenging and approaches learning through a collective approach as we share our individual insights and understandings. We will learn from each other. Students must come to class having read the assignment materials critically so that we can grapple with ideas and engage in debate. Avid participation is required. There will be minimal formal lecturing and most seminar time will consist of open discussion. Furthermore, this capstone will draw upon the knowledge students have gained from many of their other Political Science classes. The course materials will draw heavily from empirical evidence (qualitative…