MIGRATION POLICIES

The course is part of the related and complementary activities (Attività affini e integrative) of the Master's degree course in Welfare, Society and Social Work and aims to provide coordinates on the migration phenomenon as public policy. The analysis of migration policies dialogues with the teachings of Theories and analysis of inequalities and Policies against new social risks.

At the end of the course, students will acquire knowledge and understanding:
- of the central terms and concepts of the public policy approach and how it translates into migration policies
- of the main thematic dimensions in which these policies are articulated
-of the main issues in the migration policy debate.

At the end of the course students will acquire the following skills:
- correctly use terminology related to migration as a set of public policies
- illustrate past and present problems, phenomena or situations relating to interventions in the field of migration by sub-national, national and European Union governments
- critical capacity with regard to the differences between declared policies and actually implemented policies
- compare the approaches to migration of different European countries and other Western democracies.


At the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse, from the knowledge and skills acquired:
- the definition of problems related to international migration
-the actors who design, decide and implement policies
- the prevailing ways in which migration issues are addressed

They will have acquired the ability to:
- summarise in writing the main contents of the concepts and approaches studied, emphasising, through appropriate terminology, their most relevant applications in various case studies (countries)
- discuss and interact (among peers) critically and respectfully and make use of the knowledge and skills acquired when discussing issues related to migration policies


They will have acquired the ability to:
- consult, study and critically synthesise the contents of the reference bibliography
- relate the theories and concepts addressed and discussed during the course to relevant problems and discussion topics and to analyses proposed by other disciplinary fields.

No specific previous knowledge required.

Immigration as public policy: definitions and meanings. Immigration control policies. Entry regulation policies (labour and family reunification admission policies). Asylum policies. Immigration integration policies. Irregular immigration. Immigration and social policies. The role of the European Union in migration policies. Intra-European mobility. There will be a special focus on the Italian case, but there will also be comparisons with other countries and, in particular, with the European Union dimension.

1) Ambrosini M. e Campomori F. 2024 Le politiche migratorie, Il Mulino, Bologna.
2) Hollifield F. Martin P.L. Orrenius P.M. and Heran F. (eds) 2022 Controlling immigration. A comparative perspective, 4th Edition, Standford University Press. Studiare: Part 1; Chapter 11 (Italy); Part 5 and two other chapters corresponding to two countries.

Some other readings will be reported later and will constitute material for class presentations and the final paper.

- 45% a written paper to be done individually or in groups of up to 3 people on a topic agreed with the lecturer (the modalities will be specified later and published on Moodle)
- 50% oral interview
- 5% class interaction and giving (at least) one presentation [for non-attending students, the presentation can be uploaded on Moodle].

written

Concerning grading (how the marks will be awarded):
Scores in the 18-22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the examination materials;
- limited ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases;
- sufficient communication skills, especially in relation to the use of language specific to migration policies.

Scores in band 23-26 will be awarded in the presence of:
- fair knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the examination materials;
- discrete ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases;
- fair communication skills, especially in relation to the use of language specific to migration policies.

Scores in the 27-30 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- good or very good knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning examination materials
- good or very good ability to apply knowledge to concrete cases
- fully appropriate communication skills, especially concerning the use of language specific to migration policy.
Honours will be awarded for knowledge and ability to apply understanding concerning the syllabus, judgement and communication skills programme, judgement and communication skills, excellent.

The course alternates between face-to-face lectures, which present migration policy concepts and approaches, and seminars and small group discussions, which explore specific topics or case studies in depth. The lectures will be supported by slides and sometimes short videos.
Attending students will have the opportunity to make presentations in class based on the readings or on topic/case studies to be researched.