Universität Wien
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290063 SE Migration and Population Dynamics in the Context of Global Change and Development I (2025S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 29 - Geographie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 18.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 25.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 01.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 08.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 06.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 13.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 20.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 27.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 03.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 10.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 17.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528
  • Tuesday 24.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum Geographie NIG 5.OG C0528

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The question of how environmental and climate change affect migration and displacement is the subject of controversial debate not only among scientists, but also among politicians and the general public. In this context, "environmental refugees" are seen as an icon of approaching catastrophe. As the former chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Rajendra Pachauri puts it, they are "the human face of climate change." Embodied in human fates, "environmental refugees" make the consequences of environmental and climate change tangible and socially visible, beyond abstract indicators and projections.
Against the backdrop of this debate, the seminar provides an overview of the current state of discussion and enables participants to reflect critically on the complex relationship between the environment and migration. Seminar participants will also be enabled to concpeutally assess and empirically understand the relationship between environment and migration. The seminar will introduce conceptual approaches as well as discuss empirical findings from different regions.

Assessment and permitted materials

For the successful completion of the seminar, the following services must be provided

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Compulsory ungraded assignment:
- Weekly reading and comments (individual/ every week)

Graded assignments:
1) Disecting MECC case studies (15%) (individual assignment)
2) Presentation + hand out (25%) (group assignment)
3) Preparation and participation of interactive sessions (debate, role play) (10%) (group assignment)
4) Systematic / scoping review (45%) on particular MECC type (with specific regional focus) or a specific case study (4500 words main text excluding references) + Info sheet on MECC type Review (5%)

A positive final evaluation can only be made
1) if regular attendance is maintained (max. 2 missed classes);
2) if all required compulsory reading comments are submitted.

Examination topics

see above

Reading list

Piguet, E. (2013). From “Primitive Migration” to “Climate Refugees”: The Curious Fate of the Natural Environment in Migration Studies. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 103(1), 148–162.

Association in the course directory

(MG21 APF MIGSPEC) (MR6) (MA UF GW 02)

Last modified: Mo 27.07.2026 11:13