Development, Migration and Security

For students already enrolled in the programme within peace studies or other relevant disciplines within social sciences, humanities or law.

In the context of increased international migration, the complex and multifaceted nexus between development, security and migration requires rigorous scholarship to understand the ways in which security and development discourses shape migration policies. While human security is a precondition for development, securitised states and underdevelopment generate instability, conflict and insecurity leading to migration where migrants are treated as 'a risk' or 'at risk'.

This course aims to critically approach the migration, security and development nexus from an interdisciplinary perspective (e.g. anthropology, security studies and development studies).

Migration: History, typology, trend (the nexus cannot be addressed without first providing and empirically informed understanding of who migrates, where, for how long, and why).

Migration-security nexus: From traditional state security to human security, securitization of migration, Islamophobia and xenophobic discourses.

Migration and development nexus: From development to underdevelopment; poverty, remittances, the brain drain, health and migrant rights.

Migration and policing: The policing of urban space and international borders.

Security-development nexus: The extent to which cycles of insecurity and violence affect the possibility of development for large sections of the world's population, whether underdevelopment can be said to constitute a security threat.

Gender, migration, security and development: Gendered and racialized dimension in migration, development and security issues.

Policy and practices: Migration, security and development in EU policies and practices.

Students who have successfully completed the course will have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

The students will:

• be familiar with available empirical evidence on the flows and dynamics of international migration, particularly who migrates, where, for how long, and why.
• have an overview of the current topical theoretical debates on migration, security and development.
• have insights into different methodological and policy aspects concerning migration and security.
• have an understanding of policies of migration management in the EU.

Skills:

The students will be able to:

• write a topical text corresponding to their academic level.
• take active part in academic discussions and to contribute with constructive feedback/peer review.

Competence:

The students will be able to:

• reflect on the complex interplay between migration, security and development.
• unfold the north-south dynamic in migration and security.
• present their projects in an academic setting, and to submit a written work in correspondence with their academic level.

Language of instruction and examination

This course is open to incoming exchange students.

Study level: Master’s

Admission prerequisites:
This course has admission prerequisites, which are listed under the Admission requirements section. Please review this information carefully before adding the course to your Learning Agreement.

For details on how to apply for exchange, course selection guidelines, or to contact the Incoming Admissions Team, please visit: Admissions for Student Exchange.

Re-sit examination