Forced Migration, Refugees and International Relations
| Module title | Forced Migration, Refugees and International Relations |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL3088 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Michael Dumper (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
There are nearly 32 million refugees, internally displaced and stateless people in the world today. They matter because they are people in need of protection but also because their situation both reflects and is a cause of further regional instability.
In this module you will examine the various phases of the refugee crisis, the international frameworks and the solutions that are being pursued. The emphasis will be to ensure that you have an understanding of the differing perspectives – that of the refugee, that of the key international actors and that of the donor community and humanitarian agencies. Some seminars will take the form of simulated refugee crises and provide an opportunity to engage with different case studies. No pre-requisites, co-requisites or previous experience is required.
Module aims - intentions of the module
1) To familiarise you with the key issues and main developments in the international refugee regime and the impact upon the states and people involved.
2) To introduce you to the literature on forced migration and demonstrate how different and contradictory policies are proposed and implemented.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate a detailed knowledge of key issues in contemporary forced migration studies;
- 2. demonstrate a critical understanding of the actors, dynamics and trends in the management of refugees and displaced people;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. find, use and analyse secondary and primary data relevant to specific issues in politics
- 4. place contemporary political issues in larger contexts;
- 5. deploy critical arguments in analysing political issues and evaluating sources;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. work independently and in a group, including the presentation of material for group discussion;
- 7. demonstrate analytical skills and the ability to digest, select and organise material;
- 8. demonstrate writing skills including the ability to produce well organised and coherent essays to a deadline, practice in articulating and defending positions on tutorial topics;
- 9. work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
The international refugee regime: emergence and evolution
Refugee status determination: interviews
Refugees and International Relations
The international refugee regime: the role of UNHCR
The international refugee regime: international cooperation problems
International refugee law
The EU dimension: the Common European Asylum System
Durable solutions (1): repatriation
Durable Solutions (2): resettlement and local integration
Biopolitics and refugees
Impact of new technologies of information and communication (NTIC)
The Palestinian refugees and UNRWA
Peacebuilding, state-building, transitional justice and reparations
Internally displaced persons (IDPs)
Environmental displacement
Gender and forced migration
The Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East
The local dimension of refugee hosting
Protracted refugee situations and historical injustices
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 256 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 14 | 14 hours of lectures (20 x 30 minutes lectures & 2 x 2 hours guest lectures) |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 30 | 30 hours of seminars (20 x 90 minutes seminars) including discussion of set readings, small and large group discussions, individual student presentations, role-playing exercises and audio-visual documentaries |
| Guided Independent Study | 156 | Preparing for and completing coursework |
| Guided Independent Study | 100 | Reading for seminars |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Presentations | 10 minutes | 1-6 | Oral feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simulation Exercise: Collaborative Presentation, Participation and engagement in exercise, both group and individual contributions to be assessed | 20 | 15 Minutes presentation, 8 hours participation over 1 day | 1-7 | Oral feedback |
| Essay | 40 | 4,000 words | 1-5, 7-8 | Written feedback |
| Examination | 40 | 1.5 hours | 1-2, 4-5, 7-9 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simulation Exercise | Essay (1,000 words) | 1-7 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Essay | Essay (4,000 words) | 1-5, 7-8 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Examination | Examination (1.5 hours) | 1-2, 4-5, 7-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Where you have been referred/ deferred for the Simulation Exercise, you will complete a written summary of your presentation in essay form
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Betts, A. and G. Loescher (eds.) (2011) Refugees in International Relations (Oxford University Press).
Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, E., G. Loescher, K. Long and N. Sigona (eds.) (2014) The Oxford Handbook of Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (Oxford University Press).
Agamben, G. (1998) Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life (Stanford University Press).
Agier, M. (2008) On the Margins of the World: The Refugee Experience Today (Polity Press).
Agier, M. (2011) Managing the Undesirables: Refugee Camps and Humanitarian Government (Polity Press).
Barnett, M. (2011) Empire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism (Cornell University Press).
Black, R. and K. Koser (eds.) (1999) The End of Refugee Cycle? Refugee Repatriation and Reconstruction (Berghahn).
Chatty, D. (2010) Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East (Cambridge University Press).
Dumper, M. (ed.) (2006) Palestinian Refugee Repatriation: Global Perspectives (Routledge).
Dumper, M. (2007) The Future for Palestinian Refugees: Toward Equity and Peace (Lynne Rienner).
Goodwin-Gill, G. and J. McAdam (2007) The Refugee in International Law (3rd ed.) (Oxford University Press).
Haddad, E. (2008) The Refugee in International Society: Between Sovereigns (Cambridge University Press).
Hammerstad, A. (2014) The Rise and Decline of a Global Security Actor: UNHCR, Refugee Protection, and Security (Oxford University Press).
Hyndman, J. (2000) Managing Displacement: Refugees and the Politics of Humanitarianism (Minnesota University Press).
Larking, E. (2014) Refugees and the Myth of Human Rights: Life outside the Pale of the Law (Ashgate).
Lemke, T. (2011) Biopolitics: An Advanced Introduction (New York University Press).
Loescher, G. (1993) Beyond Charity: International Cooperation and the Global Refugee Crisis (Oxford University Press).
Marfleet, P. (2006) Refugees in a Global Era (Palgrave Macmillan).
Marrus, M. (1985) The Unwanted: European Refugees in the Twentieth Century (Oxford University Press)
Nyers, P. (2006) Rethinking Refugees: Beyond State of Emergency (Routledge).
Steiner, N., M. Gibney and G. Loescher (eds.) (2003) Problems of Protection: The UNHCR, Refugees and Human Rights in the 21st Century (Routledge).
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
UNHCR (1997) The State of the World’s Refugees: A Humanitarian Agenda (Oxford University Press). Available online at: http://www.unhcr.org/4a4c72719.html
UNHCR (2000) The State of the World’s Refugees: Fifty Years of Humanitarian Action (Oxford University Press). Available online at: http://www.unhcr.org/4a4c754a9.html
UNHCR (2005) Refugee Status Determination: Identifying Who is a Refugee (UNHCR). Available online at: http://www.unhcr.org/43144dc52.html
UNHCR (2010) Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons (UNHCR). Available online at: http://www.unhcr.org/4c2355229.pdf
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 02/02/2017 |
| Last revision date | 02/02/2017 |
