Migration studies and the public debate have been long dominated by economic approaches to explain people’s migration. This class will broaden this perspective and discuss different theories to not only understand economic, but also political, social, cultural, and individual drivers of migration. In the class, we will critically discuss the currently most relevant migration theories such as the push-pull framework, migration network theories, theories of migration cultures and the concept of migration aspirations. Students will learn to distinguish the different drivers of migration and to understand the complexity of the migration phenomenon. Students will furthermore become familiar with different research lenses such as transnationalism, gender, and temporality. By discussing different migration theories and approaches, students will gain an understanding of the different possible angles to research migration. Furthermore, students will gain insights into the vibrant research field of migration, including its ethical challenges. During the course, students will develop the necessary theoretical knowledge to be able to conduct their own research in the field of migration in the future. Furthermore, the course seeks to give students the tools to critically evaluate journalistic articles and public statements on migration.
- Kursverantwortliche/r: Julia Stier