OAMI 2135 - Politics of Migration & Forced Displacement Categories, Policies, Actors

This course critically examines the politics of migration and forced displacement through the study of categories, policies, institutions, and actors involved in the governance of human mobility. Bringing together academic and practitioner perspectives, the course explores how migrants and refugees are categorised and governed across local, national, regional and international scales. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between migration governance, humanitarianism, securitisation, international protection regimes, and grassroots forms of solidarity and resistance.

The course combines conceptual and historical approaches with case studies drawn from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and beyond. It introduces students to key legal and political frameworks, including the 1951 Refugee Convention and refugee status determination procedures, while also examining contemporary debates surrounding border externalisation, humanitarian governance, urban migration governance, environmental displacement, and international partnerships.

Throughout the semester, students will engage with both critical academic literature and practitioner insights from the field of international protection and humanitarian response.

Learning Outcomes

• Acquire and critically assess core debates and approaches in migration studies.
• Identify and analyse major trends and policy developments in the realm of migration and asylum politics.
• Develop an informed and in-depth knowledge of specific case-studies (worldwide)
• Strengthen analytical skills and the ability to apply tools from the social sciences to empirical situations related to the governance of migration and forced displacement.
• Map out and understand the role of key institutional actors in the field of global migration governance.

Professional Skills

• Research & Analysis: Conduct research on a specific topic using empirical and theoretical material and drawing upon various sources and data (qualitative and quantitative).
• Critical thinking: Acquire an informed and critical vision of migration issues allowing you to participate in public and professional debates regarding connected policies
• Reflexivity: Develop the ability to mobilise conceptual tools in relation to real-life situations, including in a work environment, allowing a more reflexive professional practice.
• Oral and written communication: Communicating effectively and adequately, based on clear facts and data
• Policy skills: Strengthen your ability to assess data sources and to develop fact-based policy recommendations

None.

Classes propose a mix between lectures and debates aiming to be interactive and participatory. The instructor (or a guest lecturer) introduces the general theme or topic of the class, provides an introductory lecture and raises key questions in order to guide students’ oral presentations and student-led discussions.

Feedback on oral assignments will be provided on a weekly basis and on final assignments by the end of the semester.

Oral presentation (20% of the final grade): Five minute individual presentation to the rest of the class of one of the readings.

Final exam (30% of the final grade): in-class closed-book individual written exam on the course material (lecture+readings)

Migration Governance Brief (group assignment): Working in small groups, students will produce a Migration Governance Brief analysing a contemporary migration or displacement issue. Drawing on course concepts, the brief should identify key actors, policies and governance dynamics, assess major challenges and tensions and formulate recommendations for relevant stakeholders. The assignment will be submitted in two stages:

• Draft Migration Governance Brief 15%
• Final Migration Governance Brief 30%

Engagement and participation (5% of the final grade): text discussions, group debates and oral participation.

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week
• Online learning activities: 2 hours a week
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 5 hours a week
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 15 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 30 hours a semester