65303 - Anthropology of Migration

Learning outcomes

The course aims to introduce the basic theoretical concepts needed to study and analyze migratory processes from the specific perspective of anthropology, drawing on an ethnographic approach rooted in the local contexts of departure and extending toward the large cosmopolitan host societies that receive migrants. By the end of the course, students will be able to theoretically frame the migratory phenomenon, critically read the discursive field surrounding it shaped by media and political actors in host societies and ethnographically understand the ideological pressures underlying migratory projects in societies of origin.

Course contents

Introduction (lessons 1–2)
Fundamental concepts of the discipline and presentation of the ethnographic method applied to the study of migration, as a methodological framework running throughout the course.

Border Politics and Migration (lessons 3–5)
Analysis of the Mediterranean migration "crisis" as a discursive construction, of border control apparatuses, and of the role of media and political actors in shaping the discursive field on migration in host societies.

Mobility and Cultures of Migration (lessons 6–7)
Critical rethinking of the categories of mobility and migration; ethnographic analysis of migratory networks and of the ideological and social pressures that drive migratory projects in contexts of origin.

Migration, Gender, Relatedness (lessons 8–9)
In-depth exploration of the dimensions of gender, body, and kinship in migratory and reproductive trajectories between Africa and Europe, with attention to the agency of migrant and refugee women.

Policies, Institutions, Inclusion/Exclusion (lessons 10–12)
Study of institutional apparatuses of reception and exclusion, of governmental practices toward migrant populations, and of the processes through which citizenship is produced.

Migration, Bodies, Medical Anthropology (lessons 13–14)
Anthropological-medical analysis of migrant bodies as archives of border memory, in relation to climate, political ecology, and border apparatuses.

Concluding Session (lesson 15)
Final discussion, bringing the modules together into a coherent whole.

Readings/Bibliography

• Ciabarri, L. (2020). L’imbroglio mediterraneo: le migrazioni via mare e le politiche della frontiera. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
• Capello, C., Cingolani, P., Vietti, F. (2023). Etnografia delle migrazioni. Temi e metodi di ricerca. Nuova edizione.

Mobilities

• Riccio, B. (a cura di) (2019). Mobilità. Incursioni etnografiche. Milano: Mondadori.

Migration, Gender, Relatedness
• Gardini, M. (a cura di). Traiettorie riproduttive e mobilità tra Africa e Europa. Milano: Ledizioni.
• Pinelli, B. (2019). Migranti e rifugiate. Antropologia, genere e politica. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.

Politiche, istituzioni, inclusione/esclusione
• Riccio, B. (a cura di) (2022). Antropologia e migrazioni. Roma: CISU. (lettura e studio dei capp. 11 e 15)
• Ong, A. (2005). Da rifugiati a cittadini. Pratiche di governo nella nuova America. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.

Migrazioni, corpi, antropologia medica
• Alunni, L. (2024). Le cicatrici di Ulisse. Corpi e frontiere nel Mediterraneo.
• Alunni, L., Moretti, C. (2024). Il clima delle frontiere: per un’etnografia ambientale dei corpi. ETNOANTROPOLOGIA, 12(1), 101-115.

Teaching methods

Lectures supported by multimedia materials (maps, ethnographic photographs, audiovisual excerpts).

Seminar-style discussion of the assigned readings, with prior reading carried out by students.

Analysis of ethnographic case studies drawn from the bibliography.

Student presentations during the concluding session.

Assessment methods

The final assessment is based on an oral examination aimed at ascertaining students' knowledge of the assigned readings and their ability to critically apply the theoretical concepts discussed in class to concrete case studies.

Evaluation criteria: mastery of theoretical concepts (30%); ability to critically read the discursive field on migration (30%); ability to apply ethnographic analysis to case studies (30%); quality of presentation (10%).

Teaching tools

Ethnographic videos, guest expert talks, dynamic presentations

Office hours

See the website of Corinna Sabrina Guerzoni