Nation and Migration - Period 2

Today?s debates on migration are often inseparable from nations? perceptions of themselves and each other. This course discusses the relevance of migration in today?s global world, particularly in relation to: identity concerns (diasporas, transnationalism, nationalism, multicultural societies), development (migration and development) and international political issues (migration governance and ethnography of the state). The course introduces students to major theories to understand migration, but privileges the adoption of constructivist approaches. It invites students to look at migration from the perspectives of people engaging in migration directly, of people encountering migrants as new neighbours, or of people tasked with the function of controlling and governing migration. Through this perspective, students engage with processes of community building and belonging, and with the power struggles associated with migration. They acquire a thorough theoretical knowledge and critical understanding of these phenomena and key concepts that can help understand them. How do migrants construct their identities on the move? How do transnational communities and diasporas develop? How do national communities respond to migration and deal with the diversity that derives from it? How is migration governed and controlled by state apparatuses in migrant countries of origin and destination? How do the bureaucrats and professionals dealing with migration translate migration policies into everyday practices? What are the implications of migration for development and social transformation in both origin and destination societies? In the second half of the course, we will also consider how the relationship between nation and migration is affected by perceptions of gender and sexuality.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.