POS 379 - Refugees in Global Politics

Refugees and forced displacement are key topics, but often ignored, in international relations. Refugees are at the center of international law, international organizations, global governance, regime complexity, human rights, state and non-state actors, security, and development. This course introduces the main theoretical concepts of forced migration and refugees and places these concepts within the larger debates in political science. We will examine the evolution of international refugee law, the growth of UNHCR, and the implementation of durable solutions (repatriation, resettlement, and local integration). We will study the relationship between citizenship, statelessness, internally displacement, and sovereignty and examine the intersection of security, development, borders, and walls. In addition, we will deepen our understanding of these issues by engaging with art and media produced about and by refugees. Finally, the course will explore the related concepts of externalization, securitization of migration, and the migration-development nexus. The course includes quizzes, a situation briefing, and a research paper related to refugee policy. If this course was taken as POS 369 with topic Refugees in Global Politics, it cannot be repeated for credit.

Prerequisites: POS 120

Course Typically Offered: Spring

Credits: 3