What is citizenship and why does it matter?

***The first 2 sections of the course focus on immigration, or the process by which people cross international borders. In Section I, we will explore the current figures, trends, patterns, causes,
and consequences of global migratory flows. In Section II, we then examine some of the most critical policy debates about the movement of people: why do states let some people in, but keep
others out? Should borders be open or closed? And who should decide (i.e. states or international community)? Section III of this course explores the challenges of immigrant integration. How are “outsiders” integrated into the economic, political, social and geographic fabric of the host society? What is citizenship and why does it matter? What determines immigrant “belonging” in the host state? Throughout the course we will tackle these themes through in-depth case studies, including the Syrian refugee crisis, the challenges of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that dominate crisis zones, South-South migration in Latin America and Africa, labor migration in the Gulf, U.S. border policies under the Trump Presidency, and the current migratory consequences of COVID-19.

*** Course Learning Goals:
The objective of this course is two-fold. The first aim is to give students a critical understanding of global migration and immigrant integration. The second objective is to put this knowledge into action. Throughout the semester students will practice using both quantitative and qualitative methodological tools to undertake mini “research projects” on topics of immigration and integration. At the end of the course the students will have:
 Exposure to the topic of global migration through a diversity of sources beyond the
academic literature and statistical data, including films, memoirs, and journalism.
 Hands‐on experience using two divergent methodological lenses to study immigration –
statistical analysis and in-person interviews.
 Experience coding qualitative interviews and analyzing the collective data to make more
general statements about immigration processes.

*****!!!!!!! Students will write a final emerging themes paper as a culmination of all the research done over
the semester. This paper is meant to be a “think-piece” and not a full-fledged research paper. In
it, students should identify interesting, puzzling, or challenging themes – conceptual, empirical and methodological – that they encountered across their research and course readings. Papers
should also discuss paths for future research in the field

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