SO 185
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION
Instructor: Dr. Terry-Ann Jones
E-mail: tjones@mail.fairfield.edu
Phone: 254-4000 x 2786
Office: Donnarumma 213
Office Hours: Mon & Thu 3:30-5:00pm or by appointment
Course Description
This course will introduce students to some of the fundamental themes of international
migration. Different types of migration will be defined and discussed, and the most
dominant theories of international migration will be introduced. This course will
incorporate case studies from different world regions, including Asia, Africa, Latin
America, and the Caribbean. Immigrant incorporation and integration into the receiving
societies will also be discussed, particularly in reference to the ways in which race, class,
gender, nationality, religion, and immigration status affect their assimilation. The course
includes an overview of the immigration policies of the United States and European
Union, as well as an analysis of the debates surrounding these policies. The relationships
among migration, poverty, development, and globalization will be explored.
Course Goals
The main objectives of the course are:
- To understand the major contemporary waves of international migration.
- To understand the main types of international migrants, including refugees,
asylum seekers, labor migrants, and undocumented migrants.
- To explore migration from a regional context.
- To understand some of the major debates surrounding international migration,
including the immigration and emigration policies of developed and developing
countries.
- To study international migration from the perspectives of both the sending and
receiving countries.
Course Requirements
1. Attendance and Participation (20% of final grade)
This is an intensive class, in which a significant quantity of material will be
covered each day. Attendance is mandatory for each day of the course for the
entire period. Active participation in all seminar discussions is required. Students
are expected to have read the required material before class and arrive prepared
for discussion.
2. Reflection papers (10% of final grade)
Two reflection papers will be assigned, each worth 5%. These papers should be 23 pages in length, and should be critical analyses of the readings and discussions,
not summaries. Papers will be graded based on content, grammar, and
organization. Papers should be handed in on the due date. Only one late paper will
be accepted per student. Any other late paper will not be accepted, and an “F will
be assigned.
3. Book review and presentation (15% of final grade)
Students will be required to write a 2-4 page review on a book of the student’s
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choosing on any topic related to international migration. The professor must
approve the book. These book reviews will be presented orally in class. The same
book may also be used for the research paper. Book reviews are due on the first
day of presentations.
4. Research paper (20% of final grade)
Students will be required to write one research paper, 10-12 pages in length. The
topics will be discussed in class, but you are strongly encouraged to meet with the
professor during the month of March to discuss your topic. The research paper
will be due in class on the last day of class, Monday, April 30, 2007. Late
papers will not be accepted.
5. Mid-term exam (10% of final grade)
The mid-term will be a combination of long- and short-answer questions, based
on readings and in-class discussions.
6. Final exam (25% of final grade)
Your final exam will be held on Monday, May 7, 2007 at 9:00a.m. This exam
will be comprehensive, covering material taught throughout the course. The exam
will consist of long answer/essay questions.
Required Reading
Books
Stephen Castles and Mark J. Miller. The Age of Migration: International Population
Movements in the Modern World, Third Edition. New York: The Guilford Press:
2003.
Mohsen M. Mobasher and Mahmoud Sadri, Migration, Globalization, and Ethnic
Relations: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice
Hall, 2004.
Articles
 Aderanti Adepoju, “Issues and Recent Trends in International Migration in SubSaharan Africa,” International Social Science Journal, Vol. 52, No. 162, 2000.
 Joaquin Arango, “Explaining Migration: A Critical View” International Social
Science Journal, Vol. 52, No. 162, 2000.
 Alexis A. Aronowitz, “Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings: The
Phenomenon, the Markets that Drive it, and the Organisations that Promote it”
 Ranjitha Balasubramanyam, “Evacuated Migrants Continue to Recount
Depressing Tales of Abuse” in International Organization for Migration
 Stephen Castles, “International Migration at the Beginning of the Twenty-First
Century: Global Trends and Issues,” International Social Science Journal, Vol.
52, No. 165, September 2000.
 Mario Cervantes and Dominique Guellec, “The Brain Drain: Old Myths, New
Realities,” OECD Observer 2002.
 Jorge Durand et al. "The New Era of Mexican Migration to the United States."
The Journal of American History, p. 518-536, Sept. 1999.
 April Gordon, “The New Diaspora: African Immigration to the United States” in
Mohsen M. Mobasher and Mahmoud Sadri, Eds., Migration, Globalization, and
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Ethnic Relations: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.
Matt Griggs, Life on the Inside: Life in Congolese Refugee Camps is Evaluated,”
Goegraphical, July 2000.
Makasa Kasonde, “African Refugees: Some Personal Encounters,” Contemporary
Review, January 2001.
Riva Kastoryano, “Settlement, Transnational Communities and Citizenship,”
International Social Science Journal, Vol. 52, No. 162, 2000.
Douglas S. Massey “Why Does Immigration Occur? A Theoretical Synthesis,” in
C. Hirschman, P. Kasinitz, and J. DeWind, Eds., The Handbook of International
Migration: The American Experience, New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Adela Pelligrino, “Trends in International Migration in Latin America and the
Caribbean,” International Social Science Journal, Vol. 52, No. 162, 2000.
Ruben G. Rumbaut, “Origins and Destinies: Immigration to the United States
Since World War II” Sociological Forum Vol. 9, No. 4, 1994.
Ronald Skeldon, “Trends in International Migration in the Asian and Pacific
Region” International Social Science Journal, Vol. 52, No. 162, 2000.
Ninna Nyberg Sorensen, “The Development Dimension of Migrant Remittances”
International Organization for Migration Working Paper Series, No. 1, June
2004.
Edward J. Taylor, “The New Economics of Labor Migration and the Role of
Remittances in the Migration Process,” International Migration, Vol. 37, Issue 1,
March 1999.
Robbie Thomson, “Life as a Displaced Person in a Sudanese Camp,” International
Organization for Migration
All articles will be available from the library via Electronic Reserves, which can be
printed from the library website.
Course Outline & Schedule
Part 1: Concepts and definitions of international migration
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- Economic migrants
- Undocumented migrants
- Human smuggling and trafficking
- Factors that lead to migration
- Networks and ethnic enclaves
- Theories of migration
Thursday, January 18 – Introduction
Week of January 22
Migration, Globalization, and Ethnic Relations, Ch. 1&2
Douglas S. Massey “Why Does Immigration Occur? A Theoretical Synthesis,”
Joaquin Arango, “Explaining Migration: A Critical View”
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Stephen Castles, “International Migration at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century:
Global Trends and Issues”
Part 2: Latin America and the Caribbean
- Cuban and Haitian refugees
- Mexican migration to the United States
- Colonialism and the relationship between Europe and the Caribbean
- Latin American migration to U.S. cities
Week of January 29
Adela Pelligrino, “Trends in International Migration in Latin America and the Caribbean”
Jorge Durand et al. "The New Era of Mexican Migration to the United States"
“More and More, Women Risk All to Enter U.S.,” New York Times, January 10, 2006.
Migration, Globalization, and Ethnic Relations, Ch. 16
Week of February 5 - Film: Balseros
Part 3: Asia and Africa
- Internal migration within the continent
- Refugees
- Migration and AIDS in Africa
- African migration to Europe: the colonial link
- African migration to the United States and Canada
- Racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination against immigrants
Week of February 12
Migration, Globalization, and Ethnic Relations, Ch. 3
Aderanti Adepoju, “Issues and Recent Trends in International Migration in Sub-Saharan
Africa”
Ronald Skeldon, “Trends in International Migration in the Asian and Pacific Region”
The Age of Migration Ch 7
Week of February 19
* No class on February 19 – Presidents’ Day *
Matt Griggs, Life on the Inside: Life in Congolese Refugee Camps is Evaluated”
Robbie Thomson, “Life as a Displaced Person in a Sudanese Camp”
Makasa Kasonde, “African Refugees: Some Personal Encounters”
Ranjitha Balasubramanyam, “Evacuated Migrants Continue to Recount Depressing Tales
of Abuse”
Part 4: Economics of Migration
- Highly skilled workers and the brain drain
- Migration selectivity
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Remittances
Week of February 26
Ninna Nyberg Sorensen, “The Development Dimension of Migrant Remittances”
The Age of Migration Ch 8
Migration, Globalization, and Ethnic Relations, Ch 18, 20 & 27
Part 5: Receiving Countries – Europe, North America, and Australia
- United States immigration policies and foreign policy
- Canadian immigration policies and the points system
- Australian immigration policies
- The European Union and the Schengen Agreement
Week of March 5
Alexis A. Aronowitz, “Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings: The Phenomenon,
the Markets that Drive it, and the Organisations that Promote it”
Ruben G. Rumbaut, “Origins and Destinies: Immigration to the United States Since
World War II”
Migration, Globalization, and Ethnic Relations, Ch. 8, 9, 12 & 17
The Age of Migration, Ch 2 & 5
Week of March 12 – Spring Break
Week of March 19
Film: Fortress Europe
Book presentations
Week of March 26 - book presentations
Week of April 2 - book presentations (no class April 5 – Easter)
Week of April 9 - book presentations (no class April 9 – Easter)
Part 6 – Immigrant Incorporation and Acculturation
Week of April 16
The Age of Migration Ch 10
Riva Kastoryano, “Settlement, Transnational Communities and Citizenship”
Migration, Globalization, and Ethnic Relations, Ch 22, 24 & 27
Week of April 23 - Film: Dirty Pretty Things
Monday, April 30– Research paper due in class
The Age of Migration Ch 6
Summary and review
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