Issues in Forced Migration and Displacement (009GRS)

30 credits, Level 7 (Masters)

Spring teaching

On this module, you'll get introduced to recent conceptual advances in understanding displacement. This includes the difference between displacement, a process, and forced migration, an outcome. You'll then discuss the legal definitions of refugees in more established literature on ‘refugeehood’, and some of the issues with it. The module will highlight:

• the role of states, their collapse and transformation
• the associated wars and violence that have implications for displacement and the creation of refugees in different historical periods.

You’ll learn about key issues such as the changing relationships between territory, place and the identities of displaced populations, as well as the politics of belonging. You’ll also look at coercive bordering industries in Europe, and how people on the move use smuggling networks to address the dangerous obstacles they create. The module concludes with a look at some of the moral debates around what is owed to refugees and displaced populations, and by whom.

 

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 30 hours of contact time and about 270 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2023/24. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.