INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

This course will provide students with a critical grounding in the core issues of international migration, with particular reference to the Mediterranean region. It will introduce key concepts, theories and approaches in the interdisciplinary field of migration studies and it will provide an overview of the history of mobility in the Mediterranean from both European and Middle Eastern/North African perspectives. The course will focus on key topics to enable students to acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to pursue further research and to actively participate in contemporary debates on migration in the Mediterranean region. These topics include multi-level migration governance, the European ‘refugee crisis’ of the last decade, the impact of international migration upon labour markets and economic development, the relationship between gender and migration, and the specific urban dimensions of migration. The course will be structured around lectures, films and group activities and discussions.

By the end of the course, students will have acquired a solid understanding of:
- key theories and approaches in migration studies;
- the history of international migration in the Mediterranean region.

In addition, students will be able to:
- understand key themes and debates in migration studies and how these relate to the Mediterranean area;
- understand the complexities of specific case studies on migration in the Mediterranean area;
- apply their knowledge to propose suitable topics for research in the field of migration studies;
- critically intervene in current debates on migration and how these relate to the Mediterranean.

Criteria for admission are the same as those for the study programme of "Trans-Mediterranean Studies: Migration, Cooperation and Development". A good knowledge of English is essential.

The first part of the course will introduce key concepts, theories and debates in research on international migration, including differences and similarities between ‘voluntary’ and ‘forced’ migration. It will present an overview of the history of human mobility in the Mediterranean region and will discuss the national contexts of Italy and Morocco to provide a trans-Mediterranean perspective on contemporary migration.

The second part of the course will examine in depth key themes in migration studies and how these relate to the Mediterranean region:
(1) different levels of migration governance;
(2) the European migration/refugee ‘crisis’;
(3) gender perspectives on international migration;
(4) the relationship between migration and cities.

A detailed bibliography and key texts will be provided by the instructor during the course.

Students will be assessed on classroom participation and a final exam (to be confirmed whether oral or written). The details and weighting of each assessment will be specified in the course.

The course will be structured around in-class lectures and film presentations, with some online activities. The teaching approach will encourage students’ active participation in classroom activities through group discussions on topics introduced by the teacher in class.

English

written and oral