This course addresses three questions. Who is a refugee? What compels refugees to leave their homes? And how should governments and communities respond to them? In answering the first question we will explore recent examples of asylum seeking, state building and international law. In answering the second question we will look at the impacts of globalisation, war, persecution, poverty and environmental change on people flows. In answering the third question we will assess border protection, international organisations, and refugee advocacy. The interaction of concepts and case studies will illuminate the dynamics of political belonging and exclusion in international relations

By the end of this course students should be able to

1. Respond in thoughtful and informed ways to questions such as, ‘Who is a refugee?’, ‘What causes refugees and irregular migrants to leave their homes?’, ‘What should we do about them?’ and ‘What does political belonging mean?’ These responses should draw from key concepts and examples in international relations and reflect the students’ sustained engagement with the course.

2. Effectively catalogue and process information provided by way of lectures, presentations, discussions, debates and audio visual material.

3. Develop their analytical and communication skills by way of an essay, a presentation and an examination.

4. Take command of their education, contributing in proactive and creative ways to their tutorials, lectures and assessment. They should develop a healthy thirst for ideas, examples and experiences related to the topic. They should appreciate that a world class education demands constructive interaction with tutors and other students. 

Presentation (10%) [LO 1, 2, 3 & 4]

Essay 4000 words (50%) [LO 1, 2 & 3]

Examination (40%) [LO 1, 2 & 3]

Two Hour seminar per week plus individual study of 8 – 10 hours per week

None

None

A list of recommended readings are provided at the start of the course.