| CODE | IRL5075 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Migration in Sub-Saharan Africa and Conflict | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | International Relations | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Africa is often portrayed as a continent on the move. Mass displacements, irregular migrations and refugee flows, most notably caused by chronic poverty and violent conflicts, are splashed across the news in dramatic scenes. Influenced by pervasive 'boat people' media coverage and right-wing political rhetoric warning of unrestrained 'waves' of African migrations threatening to overwhelm host countries, Sub-Saharan migration remains a very divisive, visible and pertinent topic of study. This is particularly the case since new research suggests that such views are based on alarmist rhetoric and stereotypes, rather than any theoretically informed empirical research.This study unit is consequently refocusing the topic of migration to explore patterns of Sub-Saharan African flows and explore the following topics theoretically and empirically: - What are the common assumptions of SSA Migration? - Migration and Development: What is the relationship? - Who is really migrating and where are they going? - Is African Migration Exceptional? - Regular vs. Irregular migration, what is the difference? - Drivers of Migration - Sources of Displacement As per previous years, this study unit will also examine the causes of outward population mobility, development of policies aimed at catering effectively to the needs of people in need of international protection, and measures to facilitate integration between individuals with a migrant background and local populations. In this unit, students will explore and develop an analytical understanding of the conditions that generate outward population movements (‘push factors’, including direct and structural violence), the different types of migration, the dynamics that may generate conflict in the host countries as a result of inward migration, and the importance of public discourse in shaping and informing the ways in which the question of migration is approached at social and political levels. In addition, students will explore different forms of conflict resolution interventions aimed at preventing and managing effectively migration-related conflicts. Study-Unit Aims: - To familiarize students with the different migratory flows from and within Sub-Saharan Africa; - To familiarize students with theories and analytical concepts from the field of conflict analysis and resolution as pertains to causes of migration and conflicts resulting from migration; - To explore case-studies of migratory flows. - To explore conflict resolution mechanisms for dealing with migration-linked social conflicts. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Critically assess underlying assumptions and understandings underpinning research and analysis on Sub-Saharan African migration - Critically evaluate the different types of migratory flows from and in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the diverse push and pull factors - Demonstrate the capacity to apply theoretical knowledge (from the field of Conflict Analysis and Resolution) pertaining to causes and outcomes of migratory flows and social conflicts - Critically discuss a number of case studies pertaining to migratory-flows, their divergent causes and destinations, as well as the challenges they entail for host societies and migrants alike. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Engage directly and competently with practitioners in the field migration; - Analyse specific contexts, including economic, political, environmental and social factors, and appreciate their potential for creating migratory flows - Map root causes of different SSA migration types to specific case studies and link them to specific domestic and international push and full factors. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Estevez, Ariadna. 2016. Human Rights, Migration, And Social Conflict. [Place of publication not identified]: Palgrave Macmillan. - African Migrations: Patterns and Perspectives. 2013. African Migrations: Patterns and Perspectives by Abdoulaye Kane (Editor), Todd H. Leedy (Editor) - Flahaux, ML., De Haas, H. African migration: trends, patterns, drivers. CMS 4, 1 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40878-015-0015-6 - Hans Lucht, Darkness Before Daybreak.2011. University of California Press. - Africa Migration Report: Challenging the Narrative. 2020. https://publications.iom.int/books/africa-migration-report-challenging-narrative - Africa Migration Report (Second edition). 2024. Connecting the threads: Linking policy, practice and the welfare of the African migrant. https://publications.iom.int/books/africa-migration-report-second-edition - THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN MIGRATION AND MOBILITY--Continent on the move, or contained?Mehari Taddele Maru - Brzoska, Michael, and Christiane Fröhlich. 2015. "Climate Change, Migration And Violent Conflict: Vulnerabilities, Pathways And Adaptation Strategies". Migration And Development 5 (2): 190-210. doi:10.1080/21632324.2015.1022973. - Centre for Conflict Resolution. 2000. Refugees, Conflict And Conflict Resolution. Rondebosch, South Africa: Centre for Conflict Resolution. - Greenhill, Kelly M. 2008. "Strategic Engineered Migration As A Weapon Of War". Civil Wars10 (1): 6-21. doi:10.1080/13698240701835425. - Hausken, Kjell. 2000. "Migration And Intergroup Conflict". Economics Letters 69 (3): 327-331. doi:10.1016/s0165-1765(00)00326-8. - Holzer, Vanessa. 2015. Refugees From Armed Conflict. Cambridge: Intersentia. - Irudaya Rajan, Sebastian. 2012. Migration, Identity And Conflict. Taylor & Francis. - Kumssa, Asfaw, James Herbert Williams, John F. Jones, and Eric A. Des Marais. 2014. "Conflict And Migration: The Case Of Somali Refugees In Northeastern Kenya". Global Social Welfare 1 (4): 145-156. doi:10.1007/s40609-014-0006-9. - Reuveny, Rafael. 2007. "Climate Change-Induced Migration And Violent Conflict". Political Geography 26 (6): 656-673. doi:10.1016/j.polgeo.2007.05.001. - Withagen, Cees. 2014. "The Climate Change, Migration And Conflict Nexus". Environment And Development Economics 19 (03): 324-327. doi:10.1017/s1355770x14000321. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Alexandra Schaerrer Cumming |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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