Lehrende:
Prof. Dr. Nina Perkowski
Veranstaltungsart:
Vertiefungsseminar
Anzeige im Stundenplan:
24-408.70
Unterrichtssprache:
Englisch
Min. | Max. Teilnehmerzahl:
10 | 20
Weitere Informationen:
B.A.-Soziologie Hauptfach: VM - Spezielle Soziologien
B.A.-Soziologie Nebenfach: VM - Spezielle Soziologien
M.Ed.-Lehramt Sozialwissenschaften: VM - Spezielle Soziologien
M.Ed. Lehramt Sozialwissenschaften: Sozialwissenschaftlicher Wahlschwerpunkt
Kommentare/ Inhalte:
International migration has long been a core feature of modern societies. Nevertheless, it remains a fiercely contested issue, with anxieties and fears pertaining to the arrival of migrants often shaping societal debates. Recent examples include the stand-off at the Belarussian-Polish border, where attempted border crossings led to narratives about “hybrid warfare”, conceptualizing migrants as a war-like threat to the European Union. Similar anxiety pertains to the European Union’s maritime borders, or the borders of the Spanish enclaves Ceuta and Melilla. Indeed, over the last 30 years, the European Union has ramped up the measures to limit unauthorized migration and ensure border security, while possibilities to apply for asylum have been further restricted. Migration, asylum and security seem to be moving ever closer together. While migrants are framed as risks, they are simultaneously at risk, with thousands dying during attempt to cross international borders every year.
This course looks at these and similar developments from a sociological perspective, focusing primarily on Europe. Rather than taking borders, border security and migration as given, they are examined as sociological phenomena. The course examines how societies construct certain behaviours as threatening and to what extent this construction is historically contingent. Theoretical considerations are linked to empirical examples and questions such as "what - and where - are borders?", "who is considered a migrant?" and "why do people cross borders?" are discussed.
Lernziel:
Students who take this course will gain an understanding of the relevance of migration to the study of sociology, and key concepts of the sociology of migration. They will also explore connections between migration control, race, and gender, and consider methodological challenges related to research in the field of migration.
Vorgehen:
The course takes place in the form of an introductory seminar and four block seminars. The seminar will take place in English. Regular attendance at the seminars as well as a keen interest in reading and engaging with the literature are required for passing the course. The seminars will draw on a variety of teaching methods and seek to link the discussion of literature to current events. As such, they will rely on students’ active preparation and input.
Literatur:
Readings will be announced before the start of the seminar.
Zusätzliche Hinweise zu Prüfungen:
A 500-word abstract of the term paper, to be submitted by the last seminar date.
A 5000-word term paper, to be handed in by 30 September 2022.
Group input: within the seminar, students will be asked to take responsibility for a session on a particular theme within the sociology of migration. In groups of 2-4 students you will design one small part of the course yourselves, with guidance and feedback being provided along the way.
