IR204: International Migration: Power, Policy and Lived Realities

Migration is one of the defining forces of our time—shaping economies, cultures, and politics across the globe. Yet behind the headlines and heated debates lie complex realities that demand deeper understanding.

This course will offer a multidisciplinary approach to the topical subject of international migration both from the perspective of state governance and the lived experiences of migrants. The course examines causes and consequences or migration and the challenges it presents to policy makers and migrant. Popular myths about migrants and migration will be challenged as the course addresses the highly charged issues of immigration control, migrant integration and border violence. The role of employers, governments, NGOs and international organisations such as the European Union, and the migrants themselves will be analysed as the course reviews current policy responses to the international movement of people.

Questions examined in the course include:

• Why has migration become one of the defining issues of the 21st century?
• How can one explain differences in national policy responses and their limited effectiveness?
• What role can international and regional cooperation play in migration management?
• Why has the response to Ukrainian refugees been so different to Syrian refugees?
• How to address issues of decolonisation and postcolonial condition in migration studies?
• Are diverse societies doomed to fail?
• What role does race, ethnicity and nation play in migration and migration politics?
• Does deterrence work and what does it mean for the people crossing the borders?
• Is modern slavery the problem of our time?

The course is divided into two parts. Part A focuses on the politics of international migration management and migration control policies with regard to both economic migration (including irregular migration) and forced migration (asylum-seekers and refugees). This part also addresses some ethical and normative issues that relate to immigration control policies.

Part B focuses on sociological and anthropological perspectives arising from the everyday experiences of migration, discussing decolonisation and postcolonial condition in migration studies, concepts of race, ethnicity, and nation and their role in migration and migration debates, lived experiences of border crossings, gendered migration and trafficking, and policy issues such as asylum and refugee protection from migrant and human rights perspectives.

The twelve daily sessions for the course will usually consist of a lecture that includes discussion, followed by a class which will allow for further small group work.

Prerequisites: At least one introductory course in either social science (e.g. political science, international relations, sociology, economics), history or law. 

Level: 200 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: One essay and one examination 

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

This course is designed as an intermediate-level course. It should appeal to both advanced undergraduate students and professionals who seek to gain a deeper understanding of the controversies around the issue of international migration, the management of movements of people across borders, and migrant rights. The multidisciplinary nature of the topic opens up this course to students from different disciplinary backgrounds, such as political science, international relations, sociology, law, history, political economy and economics.

Students who have successfully completed this course should have: 

• An understanding of why immigration has become such a dominant political issue, why it poses challenges for liberal societies and why policy makers have struggled to effectively address them;
• An appreciation of relevant theoretical perspectives as well as empirical knowledge of the causes and consequences of international migration; 
• Discuss the lived experiences of border crossing, transnational lives and non-citizenship;’
• Outline and critically evaluate the connections between colonial legacies, race, control of labour and the movement of people and how these structures are present in contemporary contexts;
• Familiarity with the main academic and policy debates in the field of international migration;
• Developed their own informed views about the desirability and feasibility of different policy options to address the challenges of international migration.

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.