210115 SE M5: Europäische Union und Europäisierung (2017W)

International migration is one of the most important issues in global politics. This seminar examines how two world regions, North America (with a particular focus on the United States), and Europe are responding to and are transformed by international migration. The major focus throughout the seminar will be a comparative one, looking at similarities and differences in migration politics within and between these two regions. The module begins with a general introduction to our understandings of international migration and reviews the literature on various types of international migration. The module then examines responses and interpretations of the phenomenon of migration by key governance actors in Europe and North America.
For each teaching day, a list of readings will be assigned, and sent out to you.These are usually book chapters, or journal articles. All readings on this list (unless marked as non-obiligatory additional reading) are required. Short summaries of each of these readings are requested adressing the following questions: What is the main argument of the text? What is particularly interesting about this text? Which questions did it stimulate when reading it?
By the end of the module, students are expected to:
-Demonstrate independent and critical understanding of the most important aspects of political responses to and perception about international migration, and in patricular to detect similarities and differences between and across Europe and North America
-Fully identify the differences between forms and types of migration and the responses that develop at national, and regional level
-Show awareness of the relationship between theory and practice in relation to the politics of international migration
-Demonstrate understanding of varying responses to international migration
-Demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communicative and transferable skills, including understanding complex concepts and theories, exercising critical judgement, problem-solving skills; making effective oral and written presentations, utilising specialist primary and secondary sources, and deepening the capacity for independent learning
-Write essays with a coherent argument that are referenced in accordance with established academic practice

Please be aware that you have to be able to read and discuss academic texts in English to participate in this course, and to be graded positively. You must be able to formulate and express your ideas in English. I have a strict citation policy, academic standards of citing have to be followed rigorously. Any instances of plagiarism (or any other inhonest forms of relying on other people´s work to obtain a grade) will be reported to the respective authorities of the department.
This course is demanding but rewarding. You will have to devote time and energy to it, also beyond the four teaching days. But in return you will gain expertise in an extremely exciting and highly relevant research field.
To provide an ideal environment for academic exchange and learning mobile phones, tablets and laptops are not allowed in class.