XCPD-700 - Global Trends in International Migration
Course Description
Worldwide international migration is a large and growing phenomenon, with more than 230 million people now living outside of their home countries for extended periods. Understanding the complex dynamics behind international migration is essential to improved policies and programs to address the multiple causes and consequences of these movements of people. This course provides an overview of international migration numbers and trends, causes of population movements, the impact of international migration on source and receiving countries, and policy responses to population movements.
The course provides an introduction to the major theories underpinning the study of international migration, including the new economics of labor migration, dual labor market theory, world systems theory, cumulative causation, and migration networks theory. The course focuses attention on domestic and international legal regimes regarding migration, examining laws, major legal cases and regulatory frameworks. It also examines issues pertaining to the integration of immigrants in destination countries. The connections between migration and such other issues as security, development and environmental change are discussed.
Course Requirement
All students will make a presentation on a topic of their choice as the final requirement of the course.
Course Objectives
At the completion of the course, successful students will be able to:
- Assess the positive and negative impacts of international migration on source, transit, and destination countries;
- Describe the international legal frameworks that set out the rights of migrants and the responsibilities of states;
- Discuss and articulate the strengths and weaknesses of the principal policy frameworks governing the admission of migrants, control of irregular migration, and protection of refugees and other forced migrants;
- Explain the importance of gender in understanding the causes and consequences of international migration; and
- Describe models for integration of immigrants in destination countries and articulate the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches.