B4173 - MIGRATION, BORDERS AND IDENTITIES IN GLOBAL SOCIETIES

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The course aims to reflect critically on key conceptual and theoretical approaches to migration from a sociological perspective, focusing on the heterogeneity of the migrants’ trajectories, their connections and practices of identity formations. The course will explore the ways in which different categories of migrants (including asylum seekers, refugees, skilled migrants and transnational/diaspora communities) shape mobility experiences in global societies, with a focus on the intersectionality of gender, race and ethnicity. Starting from the recognition of the complex social world in which migrants interact, the course will evaluate how migrants shape societies both in the countries of new settlement and those of origin and how migrants inhabit and sustain transnational and global spaces of belonging. This will involve linking migration and transnationalism to wider sociological debates on race and ethnicity and on the politics of social and cultural belonging. The course will critically evaluate how migration raises complex questions of belonging and citizenship in global societies and will look at issues related to integration and multiculturalism. It will also focus on the structural forces that shape migrant exclusions, discriminations, and racialisations.

Contenuti

The course aims to enable students to reflect critically on the complex phenomenon of global migration and the consequences for the societies that send and receive diversifying flows of migrants. Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the key theories and concepts that analyse contemporary migration, transnationalism and diaspora. They will be able to draw from different disciplines and approaches to reflect on contemporary migration issues and debates, with a focus on the politics of social and cultural belonging.

The course will be structured to cover the following topics:

Topic 1: Migrant Categories

Topic 2: Migration Theories

Topic 3: Diaspora, Transnationalism, Globalisation

Topic 4: Ethnicity, Race and Racialisation

Topic 5: Gender and Migrant Women

Topic 6: Bordering and Home-making

Testi/Bibliografia

Main readings (selected chapters):

De Haas, H., Castles, S., and Miller, M.J. (2020) The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (5th edition) 

Gold, S. J., and Nawyn, S. J. (2019) Routledge International Handbook of Migration Studies. Second Edition. 2019. Print. Routledge International Handbooks

Additional readings will be required. Suggested readings will be provided during the classes and students are encouraged to explore readings that match their personal interests.

Metodi didattici

The course will consist of lessons and seminars and will host special lectures from invited speakers. Group presentations will be integral to the course to enable students a direct participation in active learning methods.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

The content of the course is the same for attending and non-attending students. In addition to the required readings, students are expected to select further reading materials related to a topic of their choice, broadly connected to migration, to support their preparation for the final examination.

A list of readings will be suggested during classes and uploaded weekly on Virtuale, so students are advised to check the platform regularly. It is important that students also identify additional readings independently, or in consultation with the lecturer, in order to develop their individual projects.

The assessment methods will differ for attending and non-attending students and will be explained clearly at the beginning of the course. Assessment will include a mid-term evaluation, a final presentation in class, and a final written essay.

Strumenti a supporto della didattica

Powerpoint slides, articles, multimedia resources

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Carla De Tona