Bachelor
2024/2025
Migration Policy
Type:
Elective course (International Program 'International Relations and Global Studies')
Area of studies:
International Relations
Delivered by:
Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs
When:
2 year, 3, 4 module
Mode of studies:
offline
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Oleg Korneev
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Course Syllabus
Abstract
International migration is one of the most important issues in world politics and is studied across all disciplines in social sciences. This course provides an analysis of theory and practice of migration policy in comparative perspective. It examines how states, regional organisations (such as the European Union), institutions at global level (such as the United Nations, the International Organisation for Migration or the World Bank) and other non-state actors respond to the challenges of international migration. The course encourages students to assess leading conceptual and theoretical interpretations of the relationship between international migration, the state system and ideas such as sovereignty, rights and protection. These issues, as well as their reflection in border, migration and citizenship regimes, are at the intersection of politics at state/sub-state and regional/global level. The course considers responses to international migration in its various forms in terms of often competing approaches to understanding or “framing” of international migration (as a security concern, as a human rights issue or as a matter of economic development). It also explores the current state of and prospects for global migration governance. The course relies on rich interdisciplinary theoretical and empirical literature on migration focusing, among other, on issues of policy change, convergence and divergence. It begins with a general introduction to our understandings of international migration and reviews major theoretical debates on migration politics and policy-making. It then examines practices of migration governance in various regions of the world. It also explores paradigms, frames, structures, actors and practices of global migration governance and their localisation in specific regional/national settings.
Learning Objectives
- To provide students with ability to understand the complex phenomena of international migration and to critically assess migration governance using appropriate theoretical and methodological interdisciplinary approaches.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrates independent and critical understanding of the most important aspects of political responses to international migration. Shows awareness of the relationship between theory and practice in relation to migration governance.
- Explains the nature of international migration. Compares varying policy responses to international migration at local, state, regional and international level.
- Identifies the differences between forms and types of migration. Identifies and assesses critically the competing claims that are made regarding the impact of international migration.
- Identifies the strengths and weaknesses of different theoretical approaches to the study of migration politics. Assesses critically theoretical and policy approaches to forced migration\
- Analyses migration governance beyond the nation state and makes connections between local, national, regional and global levels. Distinguishes specific features of global migration governance and analyses relevant actors and structures in connection with wider dynamics of global governance.
Course Contents
- Introduction: What is International Migration? Politics and Policy of International Migration
- Forced Migration: Multiple Policy Dilemmas
- Methodological Nationalism and Migration Governance beyond the Nation-State
- Migration Policy in World Regions
- Global Migration Governance
Assessment Elements
- In-class participation25%. Assessment will be based on preparation of the readings assigned to each seminar, participation in class discussion with the focus on qualitative contribution to the discussion, ability to answer questions based on the readings, come up with own interpretations and react to comments made by other students. Students are expected to be actively involved in seminar discussions and in-class group assignments. For class discussion – please read the core readings (required!), please also try to at least have a quick look at (some of) the optional readings.
- Position paper15%. Each student will write brief (500-800 words) position paper on the assigned optional readings for one seminar session of their choice. The paper should be written on any theory-related topic (weeks 2-4). The paper should not summarize the readings. Instead, it should evaluate the main argument(s) of the readings. Paper should also compare and contrast these arguments. Position papers are due by the seminar sessions that they are related to (i.e. if a student decides to write a position paper on the readings assigned for the seminar 2, they should submit the paper to the instructor via email before this seminar). For position paper, please select two items from the optional readings assigned for the topic (session) of your interest and write your paper as an overall reflection on these two publications, compare their arguments, see if they support or contradict each other, how they speak to other readings on relevant issues, what you personally think about them, etc.
- Presentation20%. In the second part of the course focusing on migration policy in world regions, each seminar will commence by a presentation prepared by a small group of students (3-4 students per group). By the last class of the first (theoretical) part of the course, students should propose for approval by the instructor: 1) composition of their groups; 2) topics for their presentations (please select from the list of topics for each seminar – all seminar topics should be covered by presentations). These presentations will function as basis for further class discussion. Therefore, presenters are supposed to cover required and optional readings and, preferably, use other non-assigned sources for their analysis of the chosen topic to make a genuinely original contribution. For group presentation – please use the core readings and two readings of your choice from the optional list assigned for each class.
- Final oral exam40%. The final oral exam tests the command of the material studied throughout the course. Each student will be invited to randomly pick an examination card containing 2 questions on the course materials. The student will have time (15 min) for preparation before answering the questions. If needed, retake will be organised in line with HSE regulations. The procedure and criteria for retake are the same as for the original examination.
Interim Assessment
- 2024/2025 4th module0.4 * Final oral exam + 0.25 * In-class participation + 0.15 * Position paper + 0.2 * Presentation
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- International immigration policy : a theoretical and comparative analysis, Meyers, E., 2004
- Triandafyllidou, A. (2018). Handbook of Migration and Globalisation. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Lavenex, S. (2016). Regional migration governance. Switzerland, Europe: Oxford University Press (Oxford). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.C9048CA4
- The political uses of expert knowledge : immigration policy and social research, Boswell, C., 2009