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Elective: Enemies, undesirables and Others: forced migration and the creation of the modern world

Vak
2014-2015

Admission requirements

This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies. The number of participants is limited to 25.

Description

In the popular narrative of multicultural nation-states, we often hear about the waves of immigration that shaped the societies we see today. Less celebrated, however, are the programs and policies designed to remove and exclude people from these communities. In this subject we will examine the link between migration policy and the construction of the modern world. In particular, we will look at forced migration and the exclusion of enemies, undesirables and Others from certain parts of the world. We will look at transnational case studies, as well as responses to migration within the international community.
Although case studies focus on Africa, Europe and the Americas, these are placed in an international context and assessment tasks will be tailored to student’s area preferences. Students will learn how to apply theories and concepts taught in core BAIS subjects to produce historical and political analyses of the link between migration, citizenship and nation building. Weekly readings will be used to complement lectures, which along with student’s own research, will provide the basis for seminar activities. Students will also learn how to do historical research and how to use archival material, and will visit archives in the Hague and Amsterdam. Ultimately, students will learn how to produce a historical and political analysis of migration policy.

Additionally, the students will work through W.C. Booth, G.G. Colomb, J.W. Williams, The Craft of Research, third edition, Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, 2008.

Course objectives

The elective courses for International Studies are designed to teach students how to deal with state-of-the-art literature and research questions. They are chosen to enhance the students’ learning experience by building on the interdisciplinary perspectives they have developed so far, and to introduce them to the art of academic research. They are characterised by an international or comparative approach.

Academic skills that are trained include:

Oral presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured oral presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using up-to-date presentation techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience;
3. to actively participate in a discussion following the presentation.

Collaboration skills:
1. to be socio-communicative in collaborative situations;
2. to provide and receive constructive criticism, and incorporate justified criticism by revising one’s own position;
3. adhere to agreed schedules and priorities.

Basic research skills, including heuristic skills:
1. to collect and select academic literature using traditional and digital methods and techniques;
2. to analyze and assess this literature with regard to quality and reliability;
3. to formulate on this basis a sound research question;
4. to design under supervision a research plan of limited scope, and implement it using the methods and techniques that are appropriate within the discipline involved;
5. to formulate a substantiated conclusion.

Written presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured written presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using relevant illustration or multimedia techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience.

Timetable

The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.

Mode of instruction

Lecture, seminar style discussion and supervised research.

Course Load

Total course load for the course: 10 × 28 hours= 280 EC, broken down by:

  • Hours spent on attending lectures and seminars: 2 hours per week x 12 weeks = 24 hours

  • Time for studying the compulsory literature and completing assignments: 8 hours per week x 12 weeks = 96 hours

  • Time to write a paper (including reading / research): 112 hours

  • Time for take home exam = 48 hours

Assessment method

Weekly assignments, and a final paper of approx. 4-6,000 words (excluding tables and bibliography).

Note: The maximum possible grade to be obtained for re-submission of the final essay is a 6.0

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrollment in uSis
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.

Reading list

A book of readings will be available

  • Booth, W.C., G.G. Colomb, J.W. Williams, The Craft of Research, third edition, Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press, 2008.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable.

Contact

Dr. M.F. Carmody, email m.f.carmody@hum.leidenuniv.nl