In recent years, international migration has become a particularly divisive and politically polarising issue, particularly in Europe and North America. Whether one’s interest is in empowering migrants, or stopping migration, a prerequisite to action is to understand what is meant by ‘migration’, what we can know about it once it has been defined, and what mechanisms exist to address the ‘problems’ that are associated with it once we know what those ‘problems’ are.
This course aims to provide a neutral perspective not just on migration, but also the politics and debates surrounding it. To achieve this, the course pulls right back, and sets our contemporary preoccupation with migration in its broadest historical and cultural context.
The course covers the deep anthropological and biological anthropological roots and routes of migration, which set in train the course of human history. It then examines the role of migration in that history, particularly in the context of the emergence of the nation state and the advent of European colonialism.
Turning to more modern times, the course then examines the institutions that shape the global governance of migration, before turning to the role of emigration in home-country development. The course then scrutinises the arguments for and against immigration on ‘global north’ countries and examines the various theories that exist to explain what drives migration in the first place.
The course then critically examining the relationship between climate change and migration, before concluding with a discussion on the future trends of migration.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes for this course are:
- To be aware of the broad range of issues at play when we think about international migration.
- To be aware of the various debates on those issues.
- To be able to set migration in its full and proper context, particularly with regard to the history of liberal democracy.
Classes
1. International Migration: context & background
In this first session, we will discuss the current political climate around migration, before moving on to discuss the place of migration in our prehistory, as we advanced from a local to a global species.
2. Migration & The State: the invention of a 'problem', and the Age of Empire
In this second session, we will explore how the emergence of the administrative nation state invented the idea and problem of 'international migration'. We will then examine how migration, and slavery in particular in turn played a central role in building the modern world and its industrial economy.
3. Migration & Modernity: the role of international institutions, and the impact of migration on development
In the third session, we will examine the emergence, following the Second World War, of institutions to protect refugees, and to govern migration in general. We will then examine the various arguments for the effect of 'global south' emigration on home-country development.
4. The Nature of Migration: perspectives on its effects and its causes
In the fourth session, we will explore the debates on the impact of immigration on 'global north' countries, before turning to how we can understand what 'drives' or 'causes' migration.
5. The Future of Migration: what we don't know about the climate, and what we know about society
In the final session, we will examine whether fears of 'climate migration' are valid, and look at future trends in migration, particularly with regard to human trafficking, and the diplomatic weaponization of migration by states.
Required reading:
De Haas, H., Castles, S., Miller, M. (2019). The Age of Migration: international population movements in the Modern World, Bloomsbury.
Livi-Bacci, M. (2012). A Short History of Migration, Polity Press.
Betts, A., Collier, P. (2017). Refuge: transforming a broken refugee system, Oxford University Press.
Typical week: Monday to Friday
For each week of study you select a morning (Am) and an afternoon (Pm) course, each course has five sessions, one each day Monday to Friday. The maximum class size is 25 students. Your weekly courses are complemented by a series of two daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.
c.8.00am-9.00am |
Breakfast in College (for residents) |
9.00am-10.30am |
Am Course |
11.15am-12.30pm |
Plenary Lecture |
12.30pm-1.45pm |
Lunch |
1.45pm-3.15pm |
Pm Course |
4.00pm-5.15pm |
Plenary Lecture |
c.6.00/6.15pm-7.15/7.30pm |
Dinner in College (for residents) |
c.7.30pm onwards |
Evening talk/event |
Evaluation and Academic Credit
If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.
Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £65 per essay.
For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.
Certificate of attendance
A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically within a week of your courses finishing.