EU484 Half Unit
Europe's Role in Global Migration Governance
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe, MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe (LSE & Columbia), MSc in Culture and Conflict in a Global Europe (LSE & Sciences Po), MSc in International Migration and Public Policy, MSc in International Migration and Public Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World, MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World (LSE and Fudan) and MSc in Political Economy of Europe in the World (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
To apply for a place, ALL students should submit a statement via LSE for You by 12 noon on Friday of week 2, outlining your specific reasons for applying, how it will benefit your academic/career goals, and how you meet any necessary pre-requisites (maximum 200 words).
The first round of offers will be made from 12-noon on Friday 26 September. The final deadline for applications is 12-noon of Friday of Autumn Term week 2.
For queries contact: ei@lse.ac.uk
This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access) and demand is typically very high. Priority is given to students from the European Institute, so students from outside this department may not get a place.
Course content
This course provides an overview of Europe’s role in global migration governance. The course will address different aspects, including the externalisation of EU and European Member States’ migration policies, bilateral and multilateral agreements with third countries, the perception and response of partner countries and regions as well as regional/international courts and Europe’s cooperation with international organisations. The course will also analyse the impact of EU and European policies on migration, mobility and international relations. European policies will be compared to that of other regions involved in similar processes. Students will be equipped with a variety of theories to assess these areas of European activity, including analytical frameworks such as venue-shopping, diffusion and securitization alongside relevant theoretical and methodological tools used in international relations, political science, political economy and sociology to understand the drivers and effects of EU and European policy initiatives.
Teaching
15 hours of seminars and 10 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
1.5 hours of seminars in the Spring Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
A review session will be held at the start of the Spring Term to prepare for the e-exam.
Formative assessment
Presentation
Course participation
Mock exam
Formative coursework consists in regular (i.e. weekly) participation in the Moodle debate, the preparation of an oral presentation and the submission of one mock exam (answering two out of eight questions).
Indicative reading
- Arcosta Arcazo, D. and Geddes, A. (2014): Transnational diffusion or different models? Regional approaches to migration governance in the European Union. and MERCOSUR. European Journal of Migration and Law, 16: 1, pp. 19-44.
- Gammeloft-Hansen (2011): The externalisation of European migration control and the reach of international refugee law. The Hague: Brill.
- Gazotti, L., Mouthaan, M. and Natter, K. (2023): Migration governance beyond ‘fortress Europe’: perpectives from the Middle East and Africa. Special issue of Territory, Politics, Governance 11: 4.
- Greenhill, Kelly M. (2010): Weapons of mass migration: forced displacement, coercion and foreign policy. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
- Lavenex, S. (2015): Multilevelling EU external governance: the role of international organizations in the diffusion of EU migration policies. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 42: 4, pp. 554-570.
- Lavenex, S. and Uçarer, E. (2003): Migration and the externalities of European integration, Lanham et al.: Lexington Books.
- Niemann, A. and Zaun, N. (2023): EU external migration policy and EU migration governance. Special issue of Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 49: 12.
- Mau et al. (2015): The Global Mobility Divide: How visa policies have evolved over time. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41: 8, pp. 1192-1213.
- Pécoud, A. and Thiollet, H. (2023): Research Handbook on the Institutions of International Migration Governance, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Assessment
Exam (100%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
The summative assessment will take the form of an e-exam in the Spring Term. E-exams are assessments run under invigilated exam conditions on campus. Students will complete the assessment using software downloaded to their personal laptops.
Key facts
Department: European Institute
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 28
Average class size 2024/25: 14
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills